ELLIOTT SCANDAL AT LILLE AND MILAN: WERE RULES BROKEN?

The shocking news published by the French sports newspaper L'Equipe opened the door to a huge scandal in European football. Within the scope of the wide scale investigation conducted by Italian judicial authorities, seized WhatsApp messages, text messages, and emails proved that the American investment fund Elliott, which owned the AC Milan club at that time, also established a decisive influence directly over the French team Lille between 2020 and 2022. According to official records, the Lille club completely belonged to the company named Merlyn Partners, and Elliott took place in this picture only as a regular lender that provided financial loans. However, the secret documents that emerged proved that the American fund held financial instruments granting the right to acquire up to 80 percent of Lille's capital at a predetermined price. In addition, it was determined that Elliott officials had a definite veto right over the club's financial accounts, profit distribution, and major managerial decisions. In the seized messages, it was recorded that the American fund directly intervened in Lille's transfer market activities, and Merlyn executive Petermann stated that the managers were actually paid by Elliott to run the club. According to UEFA regulations, it was strictly forbidden for the same person or company to exert a decisive influence over two different clubs participating in the same European competition. However, these two clubs competed simultaneously in the Europa League in the 2020-2021 season and then in the Champions League in the 2021-2022 season. The prosecutor's office requested dismissal without proceedings, but minority shareholder Blue Skye immediately contested this situation, leaving the final decision to the judge. Completely rejecting these accusations, Elliott claimed it only loaned money to LOSC and emphasized that UEFA did not conduct any determining review.

IMAGE: MILAN REPORTS