Police in Serbia arrested 11 men Monday in a sweep against corruption in football clubs, according to local media reports. The men were reportedly charged with abuse of office, money laundering, and tax evasion in a series of scams that police say cost the Serbian government more than $19 million.
Among the arrested were three Club Radnicki managers; the head of the local political party Zajedno za Kragujavac; and the owner of a bookkeeping agency. Six unnamed suspects were arrested for money laundering and tax evasion during the process of "buying and selling recycled materials."
Serbian football clubs have faced several scandals this year, including a series of match-fixing allegations this spring that led to the arrest of Serbian player Almir Gegic,and high-profile sanctions in October after race-fueled fights during an under-21 international match against England.