A panel of five judges with the High Court of Justice issued a definitive ruling Tuesday, sentencing Becali to three years in prison. Other defendants in the case got suspended sentences for aiding Becali.
Becali had offered U Cluj players EUR1.7 million to defeat CFR Cluj, Steaua’s rival in the championship final and later claimed he had intended to use the money to pay for a plot of land. He admitted recently, in the trial’s last hearing, that he had forged a sale contract and had in fact planned to pay off U Cluj players.
The court also ordered the EUR1,7 million be confiscated.
Becali has been in prison since May 20, where he is serving another three years for fraud in a land swap deal.