2017–2019 Belgian football fraud scandal
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In Belgian football, the Operation Zero investigation,[1] known informally as Operation Clean Hands (Dutch: Operatie Propere Handen []), was conducted by the examining magistrate of Limburg on behalf of the Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor's Office from 2017 to 2019. The investigation was concerned with organized crime, money laundering, and private corruption (bribery) in Belgian football, division 1A and Division 1B specifically.
Starting in late 2017, the investigation rose to national prominence on October 10, 2018, when 44 house searches were carried out across Belgium and 14 more house searches internationally. 29 suspects were arrested in Belgium, and four more abroad. Of the 29 arrested in Belgium, 20 were charged with one or more crimes.[2][3] During the weeks following the raids, three additional suspects were arrested and criminally charged.[4][5][6]