PSG chief’s villa riddle

THE bribery charges brought against Paris Saint-Germain president and beIN Media Group boss Nasser al-Khelaifi include him putting a luxury £7m Sardinian villa at the disposal of disgraced former FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke.

Italian Police claim Al-Khelaifi used the villa in Porto Cervo as a ‘means of corruption’ over the sale of media rights for 23 territories for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.

The Italian authorities say they searched and seized the Villa Bianca as part of raids in four countries organised by Swiss federal prosecutors.

Valcke, banned from football for 10 years, is known to have often moored his £3m yacht, the Ornella, in Sardinia. Both Valcke and beIN Sports have denied any wrongdoing. Valcke said: ‘There was never any exchange between Nasser and I.’

FIFA are also investigating, having had their doubts about how Valcke could still afford a jetset lifestyle after an expensive divorce.

FORMER Derby chief executive Sam Rush is returning to the sports agency world. Rush, who ran Wasserman Media Group in the UK before joining Derby, is setting up 366 Group with former WMG lawyer Nick Andrews and plans to represent performers in all sports.

THE trailers for football film 89 which tells the story of Arsenal’s last-gasp title triumph in 1989 start with Ian Wright eulogising about Michael Thomas’s winning goal.

But Wright did not join Arsenal from Crystal Palace until two years later. However, he has a role in the film, reminiscing about the League title success for his great friend David Rocastle, who died of cancer 16 years ago.