RCD Espanyol under investigation for buying players in Russia

Catalan football club RCD Espanyol is currently under investigation for possible violations of economic sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, according to the Catalan newspaper Ara.

A joint investigation in thirteen different countries has revealed that 28 football teams are suspected of carrying out up to thirty operations involving Russia.

The operation for which Espanyol is being investigated is the signing of Tonny Vilhena, who cost €2.5 million and was transferred from FK Krasnodar.

Of the dozens of suspected cases, five are reported to have occurred in Spain, with Real Sociedad, Almeria, Elche and Cadiz also implicated.