Marseille football president taken into custody

According to sources, the president of Marseille football club and two former directors were taken in for questioning on Tuesday to investigate transfers including that of top striker Andre-Pierre Gignac. 

A file photo of Olympique Marseille president Vincent Labrune who, along with former club presidents Pape Diouf and Jean-Claude Dassier, has been held for questioning. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Vincent Labrune was taken into custody in Marseille along with director-general of the club Philippe Perez and former president Pape Diouf.

Another former president, Jean-Claude Dassier, was being held in Paris.

The investigation is looking into “contentious” money transfers “made in recent years”, sources close to the investigation said.

A police source spoke of "fraud linked to several transfers".

The transfer of Gignac from Toulouse in 2010 is part of the probe, which is being overseen by France's organised and financial crime squad.

Several current and former officials from Marseille have already been questioned in the affair, and investigators have raided the club's offices and seized documents in recent months.