Blackpool FC, a Kyrgyzstan money-laundering conviction and a non-takeover

18 October 2018 11:30
Valeri Belokon thought he had the go-ahead to take over Blackpool from Owen Oyston but a court hearing in Kyrgyzstan – which he says ignored natural justice – has the club in limboWhen the Latvian bank mogul Valeri Belokon won his landmark high court case against the Blackpool owner, Owen Oyston, last November, it seemed finally to deliver the means of ending Oyston’s long, toxic tenure at Bloomfield Road. Yet nearly a year on Oyston remains in charge despite the ruling that he “illegitimately stripped” the club of £26.77m after its one jackpot season in the Premier League, and must pay that huge sum to Belokon, plus the Latvian’s original £4.5m investment and costs.Belokon can seize and sell any Oyston assets to realise that £34m total but the club is out of his reach. He is prevented by the EFL’s owners and directors “fit and proper person” test, which bars people who have a criminal conviction involving dishonesty. Obscure as it appears, Belokon does have one, for money laundering, in the central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, following a court hearing there last year in his absence. Related: Crewe suspend academy coach over safeguarding issue and spark FA inquiry Belokon claimed that the Kyrgyz government made 'ungrounded accusations' against him and fabricated evidence Continue readingreadfullarticle

Source: TheGuardian