Soccer-Euro-Romanian FA rejects Euro 2008 bonus offer

By Radu Timofte

BUCHAREST, May 23 (Reuters) - The Romanian Soccer Federation (FRF) has rejected an offer from Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali to give the national team bonuses of up to 5.5 million euros ($8.65 million) if they are successful at Euro 2008.

"We don't need any bonus from Becali, who could invest his money to improve Steaua's performance or help his club's junior teams," FRF general director Ionut Lupescu told reporters on Friday ahead of the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

He said Romania coach Victor Piturca, whose team have been handed a tough draw in Group C with world champions Italy, World Cup runners-up France and the Netherlands at next month's Euros, agreed with the FRF decision not to accept any bonus.

Earlier this week, Becali told the local Sport.ro TV station that he would offer 500,000 euros if Romania got past the group stage, add two million more if they reached the final and pay out 5.5 million if they became European champions.

Becali is being investigated by Romania's anti-corruption department (DNA), which has accused him of offering bribes to players and officials of Universitatea Cluj to draw with or beat CFR Cluj, Steaua's main rivals in this season's title race.

CFR Cluj beat Universitatea 1-0 to win the title by a point from Steaua earlier this month in the last round of matches.

"I will give the money to the national team to show the (DNA) prosecutors that I pay a team in order to do its best to win, not as a bribe," Becali said this week.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)