Football: Ex-agent Marc Roger Arrested Over Extortion

GENEVA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th August, 2016) - Former player agent Marc Roger, who previously represented some of football's top Names, has been arrested in France on suspicion of committing extortion in Switzerland, Geneva's prosecutor said Thursday.

He was arrested in the town of Ferney-Voltaire on the Swiss border on Tuesday, Geneva judicial spokesman Henri Della Casa said in a statement. "Mr. Roger is suspected of attempted blackmail and extortion," Della Casa said, noting that Roger is a French national and France does not extradite its citizens.

French prosecutors would now be responsible for pursuing the case, he added.

Roger represented French stars like Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Patrick Vieira before being implicated in financial crimes a decade ago.

He was handed a two-year suspended sentence by a Swiss court in 2008 over mismanagement and falsifying records in connection with the bankruptcy of Geneva club Servette, who he coached. He was first arrested over Servette's collapse in 2005 but went on the run after being granted bail, evading authorities for 18 months before being arrested in Spain in February 2007.

Spain then extradited him to Switzerland.