A first gray cloud near the Red Star. A little over two weeks after the officialization of its rise to Ligue 2, the Seine-Saint-Denis club sees its American owner 777 Partners being at the heart of a scandal across the Atlantic. According to information from the American media Bloomberg, a London-based company, Leadenhall, has filed a complaint against 777 Partners for major fraud.
According to the plaintiffs, the Miami-based investment company was loaned $350 million by pledging assets that it did not own, that did not exist or that were already promised to someone other. Josh Wander, the company’s co-founder, is suspected of doubling his assets by guaranteeing loans to the company. He also allegedly admitted fundamental violations of the agreements, according to the complaint filed this Friday in New York federal court.
This Sunday, The Athletic revealed more disturbing news, indicating that 777 Partners was the subject of sixteen different complaints for unpaid debts, totaling approaching $120 million. While the Audon leaders hope that their coach Habib Beye, at the end of his contract and contacted this season by Ligue 1 clubs, will continue the adventure with the Seine-Saint-Denis club, the timing of this affair is not a good sign. The coach, who is announced at the start, must give his decision this Wednesday.
Contacted regarding the complaint against its owner 777 Partners, the directors of Red Star did not wish to comment.
A gathering for the last match at Bauer
The Tribune Rino Della Negra supporters group has already reacted by inviting supporters of the Seine-Saint-Denis club to meet on Saturday May 18 in front of the Saint-Ouen town hall before going to the FestiBauer for a debate against timeshare which will start at 4 p.m.
777 Partners also owns Genoa (Serie A), Hertha Berlin (Bundesliga 2), Standard de Liège (Belgian D1) and Vasco de Gama (Brazil D1). “777 Partners is faltering. Behind this mirage is the multi-ownership model which endangers football and Red Star. The time has come for mobilization,” wrote the Rino Della Negra Tribune on his Twitter account. That day, Red Star, already National champion, will play its last match of the season at the Bauer stadium (kick-off at 6 p.m.) against Épinal.
