Argentina's World Cup winner Passarella faces fraud trial

Published

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's former World Cup-winning captain Daniel Passarella will stand trial for alleged fraud during his time as club president of River Plate between 2009 and 2013.

An Argentine court on Wednesday rejected a request by the 65-year-old Passarella to block the trial. The accusations against Passarella were brought by River Plate's sitting president Rodolfo D'Onofrio, who claims an audit of the Buenos Aires club's accounts showed bad investments of about $148,000.

Passarella, widely considered one of the best defenders in the history of the game, was the captain of Argentina's 1978 World Cup-winning team. He was also in the squad when Argentina won the 1986 tournament but couldn't play because of an injury.

Passarella could face up to six years in jail if he is found guilty.