Agence France Presse

Paris, March 16:

French fraud squad detectives are reportedly investigating how television channel Canal Plus put 15 million euros into the Swiss bank account of Brazil star Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho, sold to Spanish side Barcelona for 30 million euros two years ago, was paid the money after joining Paris St Germain, owned by Canal Plus, in 1999, Le Parisien reports. The newspaper said police sources said the money was paid through a Canal Plus marketing subsidiary for the player’s image rights.

Prominent agents in France were interviewed as part of investigations into transfers involving PSG and Olympique Marseille last week. They are investigating allegations of tax evasion through transfers of money between France, Monaco and Switzerland.

The offices of the French football federation, the league and five major clubs were raided amid allegations of irregularities involving advertising and TV rights deals.

Lens, Girondins de Borde-aux and Olympique Lyon were the other clubs being investigated. The clubs were members of the now-disba-nded Club Europe, launched by Canal Plus in 2001. It paid 250m Euros to the five clubs to obtain their broadcasting rights. But the payments stopped and Club Europe was dismantled after protests by Canal Plus shareholders.