One of Sweden’s largest football players, Arsenal professional Viktor Gyökeres, will be called to Swedish court.
The national team player will testify to a childhood friend.
It is the player agent Hasan Cetinkaya who invokes the football star as a witness in the trial against Expressen and football Sthlm.
Photo: Emma Wallskog / Bildbyrån
Last year, Expressen, together with football Sthlm, published a review by Sweden’s largest football agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, and his agency HCM. The review showed that men with links to organized crime were active in recruiting new football talents to HCM and its Swedish partner.
One man has been identified as part of the back gang, another man has been convicted of crime along with a top name in the Foxtrot conflict and a third man has been a manager for a rapper who was murdered in the same conflict.
Hasan Cetinkaya believes that the information is not correct.
“Without the influence or support of criminals”
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“I have grown organically, reached levels no Swedish agent ever has, without any impact or support from criminals,” he said in the review.
After the publication, Hasan Cetinkaya has sued Expressen and the newspaper’s responsible publisher Klas Granström for gross slander.
In documents submitted to the district court, Hasan Cetinkaya and his lawyer invoke football players as witnesses. One of them is one of Sweden’s biggest football stars Viktor Gyökeres, which is represented by Hasan Cetinkaya’s agency.
Viktor Gyökere’s move from Sporting to Arsenal this summer was one of the biggest transitions of the football world. He was purchased by the English club for EUR 65.7 million – 76.2 million if bonuses strike, according to Sporting. In total, the transition is thus estimated to be worth almost SEK 840 million.
Shall testify to childhood friend
The court documents show that Viktor Gyökere’s is invoked as a witness to one of the men who appears in Expressen’s review of HCM. It is about a man who, according to Expressen’s review, has links to HCM and also been a manager for a rapper who was shot dead in the Foxtrot conflict.
Viktor Gyökeres is called to testify that the man, who is a childhood friend to him, “has no connection to Hasan Cetinkaya or his business”.
After Hasan Cetinkaya invoked Viktor Gyökeres as a witness, Expressen has also requested a hearing with the football player.
The main hearing in Stockholm District Court is planned for spring 2026.
The Express has sought Viktor Gyökeres and Hasan Cetinkaya’s agent.
Background-HCM review
In April 2024, Expressen revealed so far unknown facts about Sweden’s largest football agency and Swedish elite football. The review showed that men with links to organized crime were active in recruiting new football talents to HCM and its Swedish partner
Each individual factual information in the article is correct. It has subsequently been updated with details about a preliminary investigation and an ex-police’s title.
HCM’s owner Hasan Cetinkaya criticized the article. He meant that it was wrong to call the examined men “gangs” and stated that the men were not employed by HCM. According to Cetinkaya, two of the men had served as a kind of “mentors” for football players.
Cetinkaya made a notification to the Justice Chancellor who dismissed the case.
Cetinkaya also reported the article to the Media Ombudsman, Mo. Both Mo and the Media Ethics Board freed publication.
Cetinkaya is now running a legal process and claims that publication is gross slander. The main hearing in Stockholm District Court is planned for spring 2026.
Since the publication, one of the rewritten men has been licensed FIFA agency and has been seen in social media at several shops with the HCM agency’s players.
key Data Points and Comparisons
Too further illuminate the complexities of this case, here’s a table summarizing key financial and legal aspects:
| Aspect | Details | Significance |
| :————————- | :—————————————————————————————————————————————– | :——————————————————————————————————————————- |
| Gyökeres Transfer Fee | €65.7 million – €76.2 million (wiht bonuses) (Arsenal) | Demonstrates the high stakes and financial implications within the football world. |
| Total Transfer Value (SEK)| Approximately SEK 840 million | Highlights the substantial investment in player acquisitions and the financial pressures on clubs and agents. |
| Legal Action | Hasan Cetinkaya suing Expressen and Klas Granström for gross slander.| Reflects the repercussions of investigative journalism and the legal challenges faced by media outlets. |
| Allegations | links between HCM agency and individuals with alleged ties to organized crime and the Foxtrot conflict.| Underscores potential issues of corruption, and the influence of criminal activities within the football industry. |
| Witness Testimony | Viktor Gyökeres called to testify about a childhood friend, allegedly linked to HCM and the Foxtrot conflict. | Positions a prominent player within the legal narrative, influencing public perception and outcomes. |
| Main Hearing Date | Planned for Spring 2026 in Stockholm District Court.| Marks the timeline and anticipated resolution for the legal proceedings. |
SEO-Friendly FAQ Section
to provide readers with clarity and improve search visibility regarding this intricate case, here’s a comprehensive FAQ:
Q: Who is Viktor Gyökeres?
A: viktor Gyökeres is a prominent Swedish professional footballer, currently playing for Arsenal. He’s known for his significant transfer to the English club.
Q: What is the case involving Hasan Cetinkaya and Expressen about?
A: Hasan Cetinkaya, a leading football agent, is suing the Swedish newspaper Expressen and their publisher, Klas Granström, for alleged gross slander. The lawsuit stems from an Expressen review that raised questions about the agent’s agency, HCM, and its connections to individuals with potential links to organized crime.
Q: Why is Viktor Gyökeres involved in this case?
A: Gyökeres is being called as a witness by Hasan Cetinkaya. He is expected to testify about a childhood friend, who is mentioned in Expressen’s review and allegedly has links to HCM.
Q: What is the Foxtrot conflict?
A: The Foxtrot conflict is a Swedish gang-related conflict involving organized crime. The Expressen articles allege connections between HCM and individuals linked to this conflict.
Q: What are the financial implications of Gyökeres’s transfer?
A: Gyökeres’s transfer to Arsenal was valued at up to €76.2 million (€65.7 million base), which is one of the moast significant transfers in recent football history.This underscores the substantial financial elements present in professional football.
Q: where and when will the court case take place?
A: The main hearing is scheduled in Stockholm District Court, Sweden, for Spring 2026.
Q: What is the role of player agents in professional football?
A: Player agents represent football players, negotiating contracts with clubs and managing their players’ off-field endeavors. due to the high financial stakes, agents play a vital role in the sports industry and are sometimes subject to scrutiny.
Q: What is the status of the legal proceedings?
A: As of the current date, the case is in the pre-trial phase, and the main hearing is scheduled for spring of 2026. Further developments are anticipated as the legal proceedings advances.
Q: How can I stay updated on this story?
A: Follow news from reliable sources like Expressen and other reputable media outlets. Bookmark this article for regular updates.
