Russian bidders pull out of Roma deal

By Dave Eadevic
March 5 2004

A russian consortium has walked out of negotiations to buy cash strapped Roma. Which has left the very future of the Seria A giants in doubt.

At the weekend the club was quoted as saying that they were almost 48 million Euroes in debt, but it was being widely reported that the russians were on the verdge of a 400 million Euro deal to buy the club.

However, according to the company's lawyer, Salvatore Trifiro, his client's u-turn was prompted by an investigation by Italy's finance police into false accounting in soccer clubs.

The Russians' withdrawal leaves Roma in dire financial difficulties.. They are estimated to be €300m in debt and unless they find an alterbnnative buyer or rekindle the inetrest of the Russian consortium, theire future remains uncertain. Certainly, Trifiro believes it is unlikely the Russians will return.