BRUSSELS: Israeli ‘super agent’ Pini Zahavi has been indicted by a Belgian court for “forgery, use of forgery, fraud and money laundering” in the Royal Mouscron inquiry.

Investigating judge Michel Caise has targeted connections between Zahavi, 77, and Mouscron, now in the second division.

Local media has reported that Zahavi has been on bail now for several weeks.

Zahavi – who has played central roles in early Chelsea transfers after the Roman Abramovich takeover nearly 20 years ago – bought the Belgian club in 2015 through a company based in Malta before stepping down in 2017 because FIFA prohibits an agent from owning a club.

He then sold his shares for €10 to another Maltese company run by his nephew Adar.

Investigators therefore allege that Zahavi illegally continued to control the club until 2020 before selling it to Gérard Lopez, the current owner. The club had already been indicted in the same case in August 2020.

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