George Copos


Gheorghe Copos is a Romanian businessman and politician.
A graduate of the communist cadres' training school Ștefan Gheorghiu Academy, he was in his youth a leader of the Union of Communist Youth.
He is the owner of a chain of confectionery shops, a chain of electronics shops, several hotels. He owned the football club Rapid București between 1992 and 2013.
Copos was a member of the Conservative Party and between December 2004 and January 2006, he was a vice-prime-minister and State Minister in charge with coordination of the activities in the field of business environment and small and medium-sized enterprises in the Tăriceanu government.
On January 21, 2006, he resigned from the Conservative Party amid a corruption scandal. He maintained, however, his function as vice prime-minister and State Minister in the government. He also resigned from the government in June 2006, maintaining his function as a senator.

Football transfer conviction

On March 4, 2014, a Romanian appeals court sentenced him to 3 years and 8 months in prison for fraud, tax evasion and money laundering in connection with Rapid Bucharest football player transfers; he was also ordered to repay the equivalent of USD 690,000 to the football club and the Romanian state.

"The Lottery" conviction

On the 26th of March 2014, a Romanian court sentenced him to 4 years in prison for fraud, in a case regarding the sale of several commercial venues to the Romanian State Lottery.