Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper): In 2018, KV Oostende transferred Fashion Sakala for €500,000, with €250,000 due by August 1. A fake email misdirected the payment to a German company, involving an 85-year-old fraud convict.
In 2018, KV Oostende (KVO), a Belgian football team facing financial difficulties, negotiated with Spartak Moscow to transfer Zambian forward Fashion Sakala for 500,000 euros. KVO agreed to pay 250,000 euros by August 1, 2018. Sakala, known for his speed and skills, was seen as a key player to help strengthen the team during a rebuilding phase, with hopes that he would enhance their attacking performance.
How did KV Oostende’s financial struggles and fraudulent transactions impact smaller clubs?
The transfer took place while KVO was struggling financially, which caused the club to go bankrupt. It has been said that smaller European clubs face challenges when trying to compete with bigger teams and attract international players. Even though Sakala had potential, these deals highlight how hard it is for clubs with limited funds to balance their goals and financial stability.
At that time, the club received an email asking for the first payment. The email appeared to be from the legal director of Spartak Moscow, but KVO later realized it was fake, and the money went to the wrong place. The club contacted the police, who found that the money had gone to a German company in the aviation business. This led them to an 85-year-old man, the owner of that company, who had been convicted of fraud but couldn’t attend court due to health issues.
