A scandal has erupted in the rugby world as several players, including a Springbok wing, have had their millions vanish in a deal to buy a French club. Makazole Mapimpi's agent, Anthony Johnson, and former World Cup star Johan Roux, persuaded players to hand over large sums of money, promising a €100m loan to buy the club outright. However, the money was transferred into a personal bank account in Poland, and a criminal case has been opened.
The players were told their money was needed upfront to "unlock" the loan, which would be used to buy Béziers, a fallen giant of French rugby. Johnson and Roux claimed they had also invested in the deal, but refused to provide proof or disclose the amount. One player, a former Sharks hooker, paid €120,000 and received neither his investment nor the promised interest. He has since opened a criminal complaint with police in Poland.
The agreement signed by the players gave the deal a 30-day deadline, after which they were to receive their investment back, along with interest. However, the deadline passed, and the players received nothing. Another rugby player, who wishes to remain anonymous, was approached with a similar investment opportunity and believes it was a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Johnson is a rugby agent accredited by the Rugby Football Union in England, and a director of the SA Rugby Agents Association. Roux runs a company called Global Sport Capital, which he claims invests in sport and sport-related business. However, an investigation has found that all eight SA companies Roux is registered as a director of are deregistered or in liquidation.
Roux claimed that the players' money was put up as security to persuade a bank to release a larger loan, which would then be used to buy Béziers. However, the loan was never released, and the takeover never happened. The players' money was transferred into an account held by an Italian national, Antonino Pane, who describes himself as the chief executive of Eurokredit Merchant Bank.
An investigation has found that the deal promised insurance cover of at least €1m from a company named "Heuler Hermes", but no such company exists. The trade credit insurer matching the description is Euler Hermes, now trading as Allianz Trade. Roux has refused to disclose details of the collateral or who is holding it.
Roux has named three men behind the deal, including himself, Anthony Johnson, and Rudy Joubert, a former Bulls coach. However, Roux has refused to produce a mandate from Pane, who allegedly authorised him to raise the money. The players are still seeking to recover their lost investments, and the case is ongoing.
Key points
- Rugby players lost hundreds of thousands of euros in a deal to buy a French club.
- The players were promised a €100m loan, but it was never released.
- A criminal case has been opened in Poland, and the players are seeking to recover their lost investments.
