Hungarian football money is “dissolve” in Ukraine

Тарас Зозулінський

In 2017 and 2018, the Hungarian government allocated 2,650,000,000 forints to the development of Ukrainian football.

These funds were provided in two tranches — according to two different treaties. These billions of forints were intended to create and operate Munkacs Football Academy. And if the first contract — for the purchase of inventory, the functioning of football clubs, food and equipment for boys — was executed, then the money for the second contract and tranche «evaporated.»

1 650 000 000, Hungarian taxpayers’ money for construction, reconstruction and modernization of sports facilities and football fields. The contract and all work must be completed by the end of 2018. However, on most objects, construction work did not even begin.

Hungarian taxpayers’ money were managed by two charitable institutions created specifically for this purpose. Among their leaders — representative of a significant political party and a functionary of the football federation, he is close to the deputy governor of the region.

Munkacs Football Academy

Youth Football Club «Mukachevo» was founded in 2005 — for the money of the charitable foundation named after Pak Shandor (a Hungarian living in the USA).

Kids are training at the club now. This kids 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009 years of birth.

The total number of children in the club is 225 people.

Senior team (U 19) — plays in the first league of Ukrainian Youth Football league.

In the upper league there are four other teams in other age groups — U-17, U-16, U-15, U-14.

Junior teams — U 13, U12, U11, U10 — play in the championship of the Transcarpathia Youth Football League.

That is — Four teams in the age group 2001(U-17), 2002 (U-16), 2003 (U-15), 2004 (U-14) of the year of birth are in the higher league of the Ukrainian Youth Football league. And the U-19 team, which plays in the first league of the Ukrainian championship, completes the football pyramid of the academy.

The Academy provides players with equipment, nutrition and accommodation. Teams of all age groups take part not only in the main competitions — the championships of the Ukrainian Youth Football league and theTranscarpathia Youth Football League, but also in the European League and various international competitions.

The idea to buy the club belongs to Hungarian businessman Istvan Crou from Budapest.

In 2016, a delegation from Hungary arrived. Headed by Minister of National Development Hungary Seszták Miklós.

Also attended Rèvèsz Attila (sportigazgató kapott – szakmai igazgató KISVARDA FC); György Korolovszky (Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség) ; Maklári Balázs (Várda Sport Egyesület Kisvárda — Egyesület elnöke).

The Ukrainian side was represented by the founders of the football club — Lator Peeter and Zoltan Silvashi.

New owners

It was agreed that the Hungarians will redeem a football club and will found a football academy on its base. Funding will be provided through Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség, and also through VÁRDA Sport Egyesület Kisvárda.

In February 2017 — owners and name changed.

Current name — Kft “MUNKÁCS FUTBALL AKADÉMIA”.

Current owners:

Founder, General Director — Rèvèsz Attila from Kisvarda – 48%;

Founder, Signer — Istvan Crou from Budapest – 48%;
The previous owner of the football club – Public organization “Youth football club ”Mukachevo” – 4%.

One of the founders of this public organization, board member and signer — Lator Peeter — is appointed as a deputy general director and signer in Kft “Munkacs futball akademia”.

György Korolovszky (employee Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség) was appointed senior trainer and then sports director.

As I wrote above, Maklári Balázs (Várda Sport Egyesület Kisvárda — Egyesület elnöke) also attended a delegation meeting.

Therefore, the Hungarian government decided to allocate money for the Academy through Várda Sport Egyesület Kisvárda and also through Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség.

Billions of Forints

I found a document ( dated 2017), which confirms that next money was allocated from the Hungarian budget.

1 000 000 000 Hungarian forints were taken out for this football club, that is food, accommodation, sports equipment, trips to competitions.

In 2018 the Hungarian government decided to allocate 1,650,000,000 forints to the Munkacs Football Academy.

However, this is already money for the construction, reconstruction and modernization of sports facilities.

Initially, the construction of the stadiums and infrastructure of the Academy was planned in the city of Mukachevo.

But representatives of the football club reported that they were not able to negotiate with the local authorities.

I asked for clarification of the situation to the Mukachevo City Council.

Katerina Krishinets-Andalioshi, Head of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports of the Mukachevo City Council, explained to me:

The realization of the sports object of the Munkach Football Academy was really planned in Mukachevo . Subsequently, the implementation of this project was not carried out due to the refusal of the Hungarian side building the Academy in the city of Mukachevo.

Information that the infrastructure creation of the Football Academy Munkacs failed to implement through the position of the city authorities is not true.

In February 2018, a delegation from Hungary — Rèvèsz Attila and Modior Zoltan — a worker from Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség — came and met with Genadiy Moskal, the head of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, and Ivan Duran, the head of the Transcarpathian Football Federation.

Hungarians decided to build the academy — having invested 1,650,000,000 forints — through non-profit organizations and foundations, reported Rèvèsz Attila himself.

At this meeting, it is decided to develop the infrastructure and sports facilities of Munkácsi Labdarúgó Akadémia in three settlements — Uzhhorod, Viderny village, Dertsen village.

Rèvèsz Attila told:

In Uzhgorod, we will improve the sports infrastructure and living conditions for children in the Sports Children Junior School of Olympic Reserve. This will includ the reconstruction of the «Avangard» stadium and the construction of a special center for the selection of talented children with sports grounds in the village of Srednei of Uzhgorod district.
In Dertsen, construction of a whole complex — dormitories, sports grounds, football fields, will plan. The institution will operate on the model of the Football Academy in Kiswarda.

These promises remained only in words and have not been implemented in the future. But about it later.

Charitable organizations that have transferred money

In order to implement the Munkácsi Labdarúgó Akadémia programs in Ukraine, two organizations were founded:

The first was Charitable organization «Charity Found” Sportsmen and soccer players support “Football Academy Carpathia” in 2018 in Uzhhorod.

Founder — Rèvèsz Attila
Founder — Lavryshyn Oleksandr

3. Director – Chegil Oleksandr

This charitable organization was created for the programs of Munkácsi Labdarúgó Akadémia in the city of Uzhhorod and the village of Serednie.

In March 2018 Chegil Oleksandr interviewed the Federation of Football of Transcarpathia.

That’s what he talked about Labdarúgó Akadémia:

We begin construction and reconstruction — on the basis of a specialized children and youth school of the Olympic reserve «Avangard». In particular, we will try to change the lawn of the central field with heating, which will meet international standards. Also we going to install artificial coverage on the field number 2. And we will consider the item of replacing the lawn of field №3.

A new modern complex will be built in Dertsen, where a number of football fields will be set up, dormitories and dining areas will be set up for the players. Two football fields, as well as modern tribunes and a new locker room will be built in the village of Serednie. At the expense of the fund, we will send part of the money to support the participating teams in the Transcarpathia Youth Football League.

What will this support be?
It is about compensation for financial expenses for the team to travel to the venue, as well as the provision of the necessary sports equipment. We are considering other opportunities for addressing material assistance to young football players. Even the appointment of scholarships for the most talented.

The second was Charitable organization Charity foundation “Transcarpathian athlete and soccer talent care center” in December, 2017 in Dertsen.

Founder — Rèvèsz Attila
Founder, director — Lator Peeter ( as I wrote above, he is also — deputy general director at Kft “Munkacs football academia”)

This charitable organization was set up for Munkácsi Labdarúgó Akadémia programs in the village of Dertsen.

— According to the legislation of Ukraine — Charitable organizations — charitable foundations — are non-profit organizations. Accordingly — They have tax privileges. Therefore — it was profitable to do all this through charitable foundations — to pay less taxes to the budget of Ukraine.

namely:

1. Charitable foundation receiving a donation — does not pay any taxes from this money;
2. the law exempts from the Value Added Tax (20%) all transactions related to charitable foundations;
3. Do not pay income tax (18%)
3. There are privileges and during customs transportation — goods carried by a charitable organization are exempt from taxation;

— accordingly — to send more money to the academy’s objects.

namely:

accordingly — to send more money to the academy’s objects.

Why is it necessary for Hungary?

The head of the information department Kft “MFA”, Roman Senishin, in one of the recent interviews with the coach said:

— Ukrainian children are more developed, they have another perception, a different football mentality, and they are stronger than Hungarian footballers.

The vast majority of ukrainian children with “MFA” are currently in Kisvarda- in the first league.

Controlling Hungarian money. Who are these people?

The figure of Alexander Lavryshina is quite interesting. He is a politician — a member of the Political Party «Radical Party Oleg Lyashko». He was a candidate for deputy to Uzhgorod City Council (2015). In the past, he had a joint business with Chizhmar Yuriy, namely the «Millennium» Radio Broadcasting Company» Limited Liability Company.

Yuriy Chizhmar is a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Radical Party Oleg Lyashko). Today, this political structure is associated with the oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. Deputies lobby for his interests and defend the business. Their faction in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine consists of 21 deputies. Yuriy Chizhmar worked at the Ministry of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station.

He also led the service of the head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine and headed the Ternopil Regional State Administration.

The next figure is Chegil Oleksander. He is the head of the Berehove district federation of football (confirmation is attached). Chegil is also a functionary and a member of the Transcarpathian Football Federation, headed by Ivan Duran, deputy governor of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration (confirmation is attached). Ivan Duran attended all meetings of Hungarian delegations in Ukraine. In the leadership of the Transcarpathian Football Federation, whose member is Chegil Oleksander, there are some odious people.

Sherbey Myroslav — First Deputy Chairman — he headed the Volovets Regional Party of Regions Organization.

Regarding – NGO «CYFC «Mukachevo». As I wrote earlier, it is co-founder of Kft “MFA”. Here also links with politicians. Deputy Head of the Board NGO «CYFC «Mukachevo» is Andrushko Volodymyr. In the past he was an assistant to the people’s deputy of Ukraine — Viktor Baloga.

The latter was the Minister of Emergency Situations, when Chizhmar Yuriy worked in the ministry in a leading position. When Baloga Victor was the head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, he appointed Chizhmar Yuriy as head of the Office of the President.

Today Andrushko Volodymyr is also an assistant to the deputy of the Transcarpathian Regional Council, Sofilkanich Mikhail.

The deputy represents the United Center — the chairman of the party is the same Viktor Baloga.

Given all that is described, money Hungarian taxpayers found themselves in a «safe» hands. This is clearly evidenced by the fact that from the planned works, made very little.

FOOTBALL ACADEMY CARPATHIA

As I already wrote — This charitable organization was created for the programs of Munkácsi Labdarúgó Akadémia in the city of Uzhhorod and in the village of Serednie.

I managed to get 4 important documents from the Uzhhorod City Council and from the Executive Committee. These documents are “Decision of the executive committee of Uzhgorod City Council” and Contract on joint activity — Uzhgorod City Council.

Consequently, these documents contain the following:

An agreement on joint activity was signed — between 1. Uzhgorod City Council; 2. Várda Sport Egyesület Kisvárda; 3. CF «Football academy Carpathia»; 4 Communal Enterprise «Avangard Stadium».

According to the contract — Várda Sport Egyesület Kisvárda works on reconstruction of the Uzhgorod stadium «Avangard»: modernization of the existing natural football field, the construction of an artificial field, tribunes and locker rooms. Completion of works — December 31, 2018.

According to these documents, Uzhgorod City Council and Várda Sport Egyesület Kisvárda authorize the CF «Football academy Carpathia»; to conduct joint affairs.

What should have been done:

— modernization of the existing natural football field (buildings I (bowls of the stadium with tribunes), an integral part of the letter A of the building;

— reconstruction of buildings IX, X in a football field with artificial cover.

Within 5 years after the project, CF «Football academy Carpathia»; has the right to use the result of joint activities on a royalty-free basis for the purpose of development of children’s and youth football. The Academy can use an modernization object of 50% of the time from the full calculated load of the object, and the reconstructed object of the «Avangard» stadium -70% of the time.

… However, under the contract, only herbal coating was replaced, drainage systems and watering the stadium have done.

Lockers, new artificial fields, tribunes, dormitories for footballers, changing rooms and everything else — remained on paper. I turned to the Uzhgorod City Council, which is the actual owner of the stadium. I asked to explain why the work has not done in accordance with the contract.

I was able to talk to Andriy Dankanich — Chief Specialist of the Department of Claims of the Law Enforcement Department of Uzhgorod City Council:

It was I who prepared contracts, decisions and other documents — from the side of the city council and the Avant-garde Stadium with the Sports Association of Varda of Kisvarda and Charitable Foundation «Charitable Fund for the Support of Athletes and Footballers «Academy of Football Carpathia».

They suggested to provide such charitable help to the city. We agreed. An agreement on joint activity has been concluded. It was approved by the decisions of the deputies of the Uzhgorod City Council and the Executive Committee of Uzhgorod City Council.

However, plans for investors have changed — because they did not receive the expected funding. They allegedly received 15 million hryvnia. Therefore, from the contract promise to make only two objects:

At the current stadium, herbal coating was replaced, drainage systems and watering the stadium have done ;

New football pitch with artificial cover will scheduled next year, – told me Andriy Dankanich.

However, we recall, the contracts are due to expire this year — so all work paid by the Hungarian government must to be finished.

Ivan Duran, the first deputy head of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, who at the same time heads the Transcarpathian Football Federation, recently on a video cameras of journalists, boasted with achievements. He tell, how the Avangard stadium is being built.

— Work on the renovation of the central field was almost completed — drainage has been changed, automatic watering has been installed, a lawn has been planted. All this cost about five million hryvnia.

Ukrainian officials deny their involvement in the project

Of course I tried to get comments from Ivan Duran. To get a clear explanation — why in the stated deadlines a new football field with artificial cover has not been built.

I sent a request for information to the Federation of Football Transcarpathia, which is headed Ivan Duran.

But they did not respond.

Why has work not done or even has not begun? Where is Hungarian money?

I asked the heads of the town Uzhhorod with questions.

Vasily Homonay — Deputy Mayor (Uzhgorod City Council), explained to me:

Uzhgorod City Council made a contribution to the amount of real estate, which will be used for reconstruction of the stadium’s facilities and authorized the charitable foundation to carry out reconstruction work independently.

According to the terms of the concluded agreement, the reconstruction of buildings in an artificial football field and the modernization of a natural football field are carried out by the own funds of the charitable foundation and at their expense.

Regarding the financing and the amount of money invested in the work, the Uzhgorod City Council does not own this information, — explained to me Vasily Homonay.

I began to «storm» other state structures.

Projects related to the development (construction, reconstruction, modernization) of the infrastructure of the Munkacs Football Academy should finish by the end of 2018.

However, one and a half months before the end of this two-year project, Oleg Murtazin, Head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Department of Youth and Sports of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, acknowledged that he had never even heard of this Academy or any large-scale construction , which would be carried out by it. And about the existence of either the Football Academy Munkacs, or the charitable foundations and organizations, he was not aware of before our conversation.

Officials of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration do not have a desire to assume responsibility for the project. Although, at the beginning of the year, they were very proud of the talks with Hungarian sponsors.

Deputy Head of Transcarpathian Regional State Administration — Yaroslav Halas, explained to me:

— The Transcarpathian Regional State Administration did not act as the founder of the Football Academy Munkacs, so it was not and could not be a party to sign any documents (agreements, etc.) regarding the creation and operation of the specified football club.

Meetings of the authorized representatives of the regional state administration really took place in the format of preliminary consultations and declaration of joint intentions.

During the discussion of the investment project on the development of the Football Academy, representatives of the investment side proposed the construction, reconstruction / modernization of a number of sports facilities (sports grounds, football fields), in particular in Uzhgorod and the village Serednie.

The issue of financing these projects at the expense of the regional budget, both directly by the regional state administration and its corresponding structural subdivisions, was not considered.

The Oblast State Administration does not possess information on the allocation of actual amounts of funds by investors, — explained to me Yaroslav Halas.

I am reminding, according to contracts — on the object «Stadion Avangard» Hungarian government have allocated 260 000 000 forints.

Serednie

The village of Serednie is located 30 kilometers from the border with Hungary.

Here should have been Munkacs Football Academy.

100,000,000 forints was allocated to the sports infrastructure in the village of Serednie.

No work here even started.

First Deputy Chairman of Uzhgorod District State Administration of Transcarpathian Region, Vitaliy Semal explained to me:

— The Department of Education of Youth and Sports of the rayon state administration has not take part in the implementation of the Munkacs Football Academy development project, no agreements or other documents were signed.

The department did not define and agree the list of facilities, sports facilities, which going to built in the village Serednie, — explained to me Vitaliy Semal.

The chairman of the Serednie settlement council, Emeryk Krytskyi insists that was not signed agreements with Charitable — fund «Charity Fund for support of athletes and football players «Academy of Football Carpathia» :

The charity fund only appealed to the deputies with a statement regarding the signing of the Agreement on the consent of the owner for the reconstruction of the stadium. At the moment, this issue was considered at the session of the village council and the decision was made to empower the village head to conclude the said Agreement.

In accordance with the above statement, the following works should be carried out: modernization of the existing natural field, the construction of an artificial field, stands and locker rooms, — explained to me Emeryk Krytskyi.

What is the result?

The sports infrastructure, for which 100 000 000 was allocated, remains «on paper». In the plans.

Charitable Foundation « Transcarpathian Center support for athletes and football players”

Hungarian authorities allocated the largest amount of money to the Academy’s projects in Dercen — 875,000,000.

For this money, in particular, should have been built new stadion, football fields, dormitory for football players.

Namely -Construction of a multifunctional sports complex.

What’s done about ?

Painted (created) a photos — a beautiful project of a beautiful building.

They can also send this fotos for Hungarian ministers!

The State Architectural Construction Inspectorate was informed about the start of preparatory work.

Сontractor selected — LLC “Sports Company «Lyukson sport». By the way, this firm has is a criminal case figure. Law enforcement officers suspect them that they did not put children’s carousel in the amusement park. This children’s carousel cost 4 million hryvnias.

From the decisions with the Dertsen Village Council and Ukrainian real estate registries, I also learned that Charitable Organization «Charity Fund» Transcarpathian Support Center for Athletes and Footballers», bought a large land of 12 hectares.

In addition, a small area plot of 0.25 hectares and a house of 462 square meters, of which the living space — 163.9 — were gifted to the Fund.

The head of the information department Kft “Munkacs football academia”, Roman Senishin, in one of the recent interviews said that:

— In this house in Dertsen they going to make a hostel for footballers, but did not have time to do repairs. Therefore they going to do that next year.

For this money, for today the foundation has a small house with an adjoining piece of land, a large plot of land of 12 hectares, beautiful photos of the project of the building of the sports academy and permission for the beginning of preparatory works. According to my information, this is all that was done in Dertsen for such great money.

The Hungarian and Ukrainian project participants refuse to comment

I think the Hungarian and Ukrainian police should be interested in this project.

I wrote a request for information to Yuliy Matei, Chairman of the Dertsen village council. I did not get the answer.

I also repeatedly wrote inquiries, sent requests for comments by email and by post office. And I have not received any replies from:

Kft “Munkacs football academia”;
Charitable Organization Charitable Foundation «Transcarpathian Center for Support of Athletes and Footballers»;
Charitable Organization Charitable Foundation «Sportsmen and soccer players support “Football academy Carpathia”;
Federation Football in Transcarpathia.

Did not answer my questions also:

Egyesület elnöke Várda Sport Egyesület Kisvárda — Maklári Balázs – (he signed the contracts);
Rèvèsz Attila – (responsible for the whole project);
Elnök Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség — Csányi Sándor (through them the Hungarian government provided money);

I also wrote requests to Magyarország MINISZTERELNÖK Orbán Viktor and the main initiator (curator) of the project Munkacs football academia — Nemzeti Fejlesztési Miniszter Seszták Miklós.

They did not answer my questions.

Meanwhile, billions of Hungarian state budget «dissolved» in Ukraine.

Taras Zozulinskyy, 04/01/2020

Bureau of Journalistic Investigations «Detectives», Ukraine

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