RIO DE JANEIRO/LONDON, July 13 (RIA Novosti) - A Brazilian court has issued an order for the arrest of exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, local media reported Friday.
Berezovsky is suspected of fraud in the financing of the Corinthians soccer club in Sao Paolo. According to investigators, an investment group he helped establish, Media Sports Investments (MSI), took part in illegal financial transactions and money laundering.
In addition to Berezovsky, Brazilian authorities also accuse the president of the Corinthians club, Alberto Dualib, and the head of MSI, Kia Joorabchian, of financial conspiracy.
Authorities began investigating the financing of the Corinthians soccer club shortly after it concluded a partnership agreement with MSI and bought several prominent players in 2005. That year, the club won Brazil's national soccer championship.
Brazilian investigators also said Berezovsky could be involved in the controversial transfer of Carlos Tevez from Corinthians to England's West Ham United last year.
Berezovsky, who lives as a political exile in Britain, is also wanted on embezzlement and sedition charges in Russia. However, British authorities have repeatedly rejected Russian requests for his extradition.
Commenting on latest accusations, the exiled oligarch said they were part of the Kremlin's politicized campaign against him and he had not been contacted by the Brazilian authorities over the arrest warrant.
"At this point, neither I, nor my lawyers have had any contact with Brazilian authorities about the reported warrant," Berezovsky said Friday in London.
He also denied any involvement in the Tevez transfer.
"I am not involved in money laundering and had no part whatsoever in the Carlos Tevez deal," Berezovsky said in a statement.
"After all, I am an Arsenal fan," he said.
