June 14, 2005
Soccer Dragnet Sweeps Europe
In a bizarre sequence of events, four notable soccer
players, both past and present, have recently been brought
in for questioning from police regarding four separate
incidents.
Leading the way is George Best, former Manchester
United legend and current walking train wreck, was arrested
on suspicion of assaulting a young girl in England,
while also allegedly punching a woman in her 30s last
week. Details are sketchy and Best has denied all charges,
but he does have a history of domestic violence and
chronic alcoholism. Where did it all go wrong, Georgie?
Meanwhile in Croatia, former Arsenal striker Davor
Suker was questioned over his business partner’s
murder. Dino Pokrovac, a football agent and sometime
loan shark, was shot and killed execution-style late
Saturday night in Zagreb. He had previously survived
a car bomb a year earlier. Suker & Pokrovac had
numerous ties and worked in the sometimes dangerous
world of Croatian soccer transfers.
Next in the lineup is Liverpool’s Steve Finnan,
fresh from winning the Champions League, and now arrested
for death by dangerous driving. In January, Finnan was
involved in an auto accident that eventually cost the
life of an 81-year-old, who died from injuries suffered
several weeks later. Only now have Liverpool police
acted and arrested the Republic of Ireland international
after it was determined Finnan was possibly at fault.
And lastly, and perhaps most disturbingly, Arsenal’s
bright young Dutch starlet Robin van Persie was brought
in on rape charges in Rotterdam, Holland, stemming from
an incident involving a young lady Saturday night. Charges
have yet to be officially filed but van Persie has been
held over by Dutch authorities for an extra day of custody.
Soccer players have never been particularly noted for
their gentlemanly off-pitch behavior, but the eerie
timing of four high-profile arrests makes one wonder
what is going on in the game. There are no ties between
the four incidents, but if this is how the world’s
footballers fill their summer holidays then there is
something seriously wrong.
Edward Knowles, International Editor, 90:00™
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