Andrés on Corinthians’ R$190,000 spend: “It’s for the club” | OneFootball

The former president of Corinthians, Andrés Sanchez, spoke out about the suspected expenses on the club's corporate card during his last administration, between 2018 and 2020. Last week, the Timão's Justice Commission identified about R$ 190,000 in questionable expenses and summoned the former directors who were responsible for overseeing the card's use at the time, to provide explanations.

The body initially listed 50 expenses, identifying locations and amounts that total R$ 190,523.54. Among the main charges separated and reviewed by the Commission are expenses with hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, in furniture and electronics stores, as well as costs with an air taxi company and automotive centers.

Gazeta Esportiva contacted Andrés Sanchez and requested a statement. The former president sent a note to the report, through lawyer Fernando José da Costa.

In the statement, he claims to have already provided all clarifications to the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office (MP-SP). Furthermore, Andrés argues that the card was used “for the institutional benefit” of Corinthians, including for the “purchase of gifts and representation expenses.” See the full note below:

“Lawyer Fernando José da Costa informs that Andrés Sanchez has already provided all clarifications to the Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the use of the corporate card, which at the time did not have specific regulations or objective spending limits. As clarified, the card was always used for the institutional benefit of the club, including for the purchase of gifts and representation expenses, and all accounts were duly approved by the competent bodies.”

(Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Ag. Corinthians)

Investigation progresses in the MP

The investigation into the alleged misuse of the corporate card by Andrés Sanchez also progressed in the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office (MP-SP). The body requested from Corinthians, between September 26 and 29, data and explanations about more than 50 suspicious acquisitions made by the former president between 2018 and 2020, during Andrés's second term as Corinthians' leader.

Cassio Roberto Conserino, the prosecutor responsible for the case, set a deadline of ten calendar days for the club's board to send the responses.

The MP's intention, amid the investigation into alleged improper personal expenses, is to understand which events related to the then-director's routine can justify the more than 50 suspicious expenses listed and, on the other hand, which expenses can indeed be considered incompatible with the exercise of the presidency of a football club.

Andrés Sanchez, it is worth remembering, gave a statement to the MP-SP last Thursday. The meeting took place via videoconference and lasted approximately 15 minutes. Two main topics were addressed by the prosecutor: expenses of about R$ 5,000 at a jewelry store and almost R$ 7,000 in Fernando de Noronha, in 2020.

Regarding the expense in the archipelago, Andrés admitted that he was intoxicated and confused when using the card, as he had a card from the same bank, Santander.

As for the jewelry store, the former president claimed it was for a watch he gave as a gift to a CBF member with whom he had a meeting at that time. Andrés sees the practice as something common in the football world and deemed it appropriate to gift the Confederation member on that occasion.

Understand the case

The Criminal Investigative Procedure (PIC) was initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office in mid-June this year. At the time, the body also scheduled hearings with the current president, Osmar Stabile, vice-president Armando Mendonça, and the president of the Deliberative Council, Romeu Tuma Júnior, to understand the functioning of Corinthians' corporate cards.

Initially, the MP's investigation was to cover only the periods of Andrés Sanchez's (2018 to 2020) and Duilio Monteiro Alves's (2021 to 2023) administrations. However, after hearing some testimonies, the body decided to also investigate Augusto Melo's term. In addition to alleged embezzlement, possible crimes of fraud, qualified theft, ideological falsehood, and criminal association are also being investigated.

(Photo: Reproduction/YouTube)

The case came to light at the beginning of July, when Andrés admitted to having used the card improperly for personal expenses in Tibau do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte, at the end of his last term in 2020.

Days after the revelation of the expenses, he reimbursed Corinthians with interest and monetary correction. The former president, however, is facing a disciplinary process in the club's Ethics and Discipline Commission. Fans are demanding punishments and even expulsion of Andrés.

There was also an accusation of alleged personal expenses during Duilio Monteiro Alves's administration. The expenses, however, are not necessarily linked to the former president. He does not recognize the invoices and filed a crime report at the Delegation for the Repression of Sports Intolerance Crimes (Drade/Dope), requesting its inclusion in the ongoing police investigation, which denounces the circulation of false and manipulated documents.

At the beginning of September, the MP asked the court for Andrés, Duilio, and Augusto Melo to be temporarily removed from Corinthians' Deliberative and Advisory Councils during the investigation. So far, however, there has been no response from the Judiciary.

(Photo: Peter Leone/O Fotografico/Gazeta Press)

Corinthians informed, about two weeks ago, that it completed the delivery of confidential documents requested by the MP. The club makes itself available to the authorities but fears leaks and emphasizes the care to not further expose the institution's image.

In addition to the alleged personal expenses, the MP also opened an investigation to determine a possible connection of the club with the criminal faction Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), motivated by the testimony of Romeu Tuma Júnior, president of Corinthians' CD, collected by the body.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.