Police arrest four in suspected financial crimes linked to Israeli Premier League soccer team

Police on Sunday arrested four individuals suspected of criminal and financial offenses involving tens of millions of shekels connected to a soccer team in Israel’s Premier League, authorities said.

Dozens of the team’s current and former players are expected to be summoned for questioning over the next few days.

A covert investigation conducted by Lahav 433’s National Economic Crimes Unit over several months, which went public on Sunday, examined suspected serious criminal offenses connected to the team.

Police also seized luxury vehicles and real estate as part of the investigation, according to the statement.

The investigation raised suspicions of obtaining benefits by fraud, false entries in corporate records, forgery and money laundering, as well as violations of laws governing income tax, National Insurance contributions and workers’ pay. Among the allegations is that wages paid to players were not reported to the tax authorities.

A joint announcement by Israel Police, the Tax Authority and the Justice Ministry said the suspected offenses took place systematically over four seasons.