Arsenal striker Robert Pires, recovering from a knee injury, is to be questioned by French police today in the probe on Olympique Marseille's finances, legal sources said.
A Marseille magistrate is investigating transfers made by the former European champions between 1997 and 1999 to find out whether illegal backhanders to officials or agents might have been paid.
The police also wants to hear from Pires over his transfer from Marseille to Arsenal in September 2000 after axed Marseille financial director Pierre Dubiton said the £6 million fee had been over-inflated and not all of it found its way into the French club's coffers.
Other former Marseille players, like Pascal Nouma and Yannick Fischer, have been heard in recent weeks by the police in the same investigation.
Pires's agent, Frederic Dobraje, told French daily Le Monde he had been threatened and blackmailed while looking after the French international's interests in Marseille.
Marseille financial director Etienne Ceccaldi, who replaced Dubiton earlier this year, prompted the police to launch an inquiry after he claimed Marseille was being controlled by "the underworld".
Pires, forced out of the World Cup after suffering the cruciate ligaments injury against Newcastle in March, was recently voted the English Football Writers' player of the year.
PATRI Vieira insists Arsenal's FA Cup victory will have no direct bearing on his Highbury future.
The France midfielder helped the north London club to a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the final on Saturday amid continuing speculation that he could be playing his football elsewhere next season.
While Real Madrid covet Vieira's services highly, his compatriot and club mate Robert Pires has said that Vieira could be persuaded to stay if Arsenal clinch the league and FA Cup double.
Like his opponents on the pitch, however, Vieira is keeping inquisitors at arm's length.
Asked if Saturday's Millennium Stadium triumph would influence his decision on his future, Vieira told reporters: "No, not at all."
"I don't want to think about that . . . It's not in my mind at all. I want to enjoy the victory." Arsenal are in talks with the 25-year-old over a new deal and manager Arsene Wenger has said he is confident Vieira will resist the lure of the continent.
Vieira himself said he was happy at Highbury and that the bond between his team mates had helped them overcome the disappointment of losing 2-1 to Liverpool in last year's FA cup final.
"I'm very happy (at Arsenal)... don't I look happy?" he said. "There is a great spirit here which is nice to be part of. We all want success and the players have worked hard for it.
"Last year was disappointing. We know how it feels to lose and we have come a long way since then."
