TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016 SPORTS Jorge Mendes: From disco supremo to top soccer agent PARIS: Two decades ago, he was a sim- of media organisations highlighted a tice has long been common notably in tacts, it is obvious now that the priority both of us,” said the man now in the Old ple entrepreneur making a living from huge data leak purporting to show that South America although the English is to preserve rapport of confidence with Trafford dugout who after leading Porto managing a video club and discothe- Ronaldo and others, including Jose Premier League and also UEFA leagues major European clubs,” he told Expresso to the 2004 Champions League took ques. That was then. Today, at the age of Mourinho, kept millions of earnings out have officially condemned it. newspaper in 2011 - ironically, one of several Portuguese stars with him to 50, Jorge Mendes operates in the rarified of the taxman’s reach in havens. the papers in the leak consortium. Chelsea. Another Gestifute client is upper stratosphere of the hyper-mon- Mendes, whose company, Gestifute SELF-MADE MAN “He works hard with players and Monaco’s Colombian star Radamel eyed world inhabited by top sportsmen International, is registered in Ireland, has Mendes appears to be an archetypal looks after them constantly,” Real Madrid Falcao. Mendes’ links with the as agent to the stars-including Cristiano vigorously denied any wrongdoing. Yet ‘self-made man.’ Born to an oil industry president Florentino Perez once said of Principality side go back to his working Ronaldo. That status has placed him at his methods have raised eyebrows in the worker in Lisbon he left the Portuguese Mendes in allusion to his dealing with on the transfer to the French top flight the eye of the storm of the “Football past and are being questioned again capital aged 19 to enter the business Ronaldo’s 94 million euro move from club of Portuguese international Leaks” media investigation into alleged after the data dump as reported by the world in the northern provincial town of Manchester United. Costinha in 1997. Asked about his style soccer corruption in the highest eche- European Investigative Collaborations Viana do Castelo. “I have every confidence in him. He is of doing business Mendes once said: “I lons of the world game. (EIC) media consortium. He was one of A video club which he opened like a big brother for me a father figure am not one of these agents who races Nicknamed “the shark” by rival the first to exploit player rights through became a successful venture and soon in the world of football and godfather to after players making promises....” adding agents, the diminutive Mendes has a third parties such as investment funds-a he would meet Portugal keeper Nuno my son,” said Ronaldo in a 2012 docu- that he represents players interests and penchant on the whole for being dis- practice FIFA has now made illegal. Espirito Santo in a disco he was also run- mentary which coincided with 15 years intervenes when clubs would prefer to creet-he rarely gives interviews. Mendes Quality Sports Investments, ning. A former semi-professional foot- of Mendes’ agency work. do deals behind their backs. When he does surface he is generally based in the tax haven of Jersey, offered baller himself, Mendes set about culti- Sometimes their (transfer) situation is seen phone in hand or clamped to his rich investors the chance to buy a per- vating close links to players, creating his MOURINHO A FAN almost sealed and they themselves ear wheeling and dealing for his stable centage of players’ “economic rights” own network and starting to look afer “Jorge Mendes is for me a great know nothing of it,” which is where he of some 100 players or coaches whose with a view to making a killing when their interests. He branched out beyond friend, more than an agent,” Jose comes in. As the controversy has gath- interests he manages. they were eventually sold on for a hefty Portugal as he progressively established Mourinho said of their relationship. ered pace since last Friday, Gestifute has Yet Mendes has been front page transfer fee in jurisdictions operating contacts with representatives of foreign “Our careers started at the same time rejected allegations of facilitating tax news since an international consortium ultra-low corporation tax. Such a prac- sides. “Having established good con- and happily things have gone well for evasion.—AFP Blatter suffers one last defeat over FIFA misconduct LAUSANNE: Sport’s highest court yesterday year salary. “Accordingly, by approving a pay- rejected the appeal of former FIFA president ment of two million Swiss francs to Mr Platini Sepp Blatter against a six year ban signalling in 2011 for the balance of work carried out the end of his efforts to clear his name. The under the alleged oral agreement, Mr Blatter 80-year-old former football powerbroker was breached the FIFA code of ethics.” ousted over a two million Swiss franc ($2 mil- It said “the payment amounted to an lion/1.8 million euro) payment to UEFA boss undue gift as it had no contractual basis. “The Michel Platini which the Court of Arbitration panel further found that Mr Blatter unlawfully for Sport called an “undue gift” that could not awarded contributions to Mr Platini under the be justified. FIFA executive committee retirement scheme Blatter called the verdict “incomprehensi- which also amounted to an undue gift.” ble” but also acknowledged that he has come Blatter, who still uses his FIFA limousine, to the end of the road in his fight to clear his and Platini have now both had all appeals name. “I will not be appealing in a Swiss rejected by FIFA’s ethics court and CAS. court,” he told AFP, turning his back on what Blatter’s suspension has been reduced from would have been his last legal recourse. eight years to six and Platini from eight to Earlier, however, he maintained that guilt four years. had not been proven. “It is difficult to follow French football legend Platini has taken a it, because the principle of jurisdiction-culpa- case to the Swiss courts and Blatter could bility has to be proven by prosecution-was have done the same. But the civil courts are not applied,” Blatter said in a statement. reluctant to get involved in international dis- “Nevertheless I look back with gratitude to putes, according to experts, and Blatter has all the years, in which I was able to realise my decided against that option. ideals for football and serve FIFA,” added the FIFA and UEFA meanwhile have launched Swiss official widely condemned by critics campaigns to cleanse their tainted images during his 18 years as head of the world foot- under new leaders who have promised ball body. The payment made to Platini in reform. FIFA is now led by Gianni Infantino 2011 for work carried out a decade earlier who has embarked on major changes at the LOS ANGELES: Montreal Canadiens center Andrew Shaw dives for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los without any contract led to the downfall of world football body including replacing many Angeles Kings, Sunday, in Los Angeles. — AP both men. Platini had been expected to take staff employed in the Blatter era. over from Blatter, but has also seen multiple FIFA said only that it had “taken note” of appeals rejected by tribunals and courts. the CAS verdict. Aleksander Ceferin has taken Blatter could face more trouble as he remains over at UEFA also promising a new era of Pacioretty propels Canadiens to under investigation by Swiss prosecutors over transparency. the payment and for the way in which the The air of corruption has not completely 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to cleared however. More details of the commer- 5-4 shootout win over LA Kings Russia and Qatar, respectively. cial underbelly of sport are expected when US courts start sentencing 39 football and LOS ANGELES: Paul Byron scored the clinching him out four to six weeks. On the first shot of his ‘UNDUE GIFT’ marketing officials accused of involvement in goal in the fourth round of the shootout, and HURRICANES 1, LIGHTNING 0, OT first shift, he took a drop pass from Sam Bennett Blatter and Platini said they had an “oral more than $200 million of bribes for televi- the Montreal Canadiens avoided a winless swing Phillip Di Giuseppe scored his first goal of the and whipped a shot past Jonathan Bernier at contract” for the payment. This was firmly dis- sion and other commercial contracts. through California with a 5-4 victory over the Los season 1:26 into overtime, giving Carolina a win 2:09 to make it 1-0. Sixth in the NHL in scoring missed by the CAS which also said Blatter Blatter’s air of invincibility ended when Angeles Kings on Sunday. Max Pacioretty had over Tampa Bay. Viktor Stalberg assisted on Di last season, Gaudreau started off slowly this sea- must pay a 50,000 Swiss franc fine. Swiss police raided a Zurich hotel in May 2015 two goals and an assist for the Canadiens, who Giuseppe’s wrist shot from the right circle, which son with two goals in 14 games. But he was just The tribunal ruled that a written employ- to detain seven FIFA officials who are now won for just the second time in seven road ended a three-game skid for the Canes. It was beginning to heat up with three goals in three ment contract established between Platini among the defendants in the United States.