Belgian security services bugged a VIP box at RSC Anderlecht’s Lotto Park stadium as part of an investigation into alleged lobbying by Chinese tech giant Huawei.
The operation targeted suspected attempts by Huawei to influence Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) through hospitality and gifts, according to POLITICO and other sources.
Huawei rented a corporate suite at the stadium for the 2024/25 season, reportedly paying €50,000.
Investigators believe the suite was used to host MEPs and their assistants, providing an informal setting for discussions that may have crossed the line from lobbying to corruption.
Bugged car and suite
Surveillance devices were installed in the suite to record conversations between Huawei representatives and EU officials. Belgian authorities also tapped the car of a Huawei lobbyist.
Evidence gathered formed the basis for requests to lift the parliamentary immunity of at least four MEPs.
More than 20 locations in Belgium and Portugal were searched as part of the wider investigation.
Eight people have been charged, including three Huawei employees and the director of a European conference company, reports indicate.
Denies wrongdoing
Two MEPs, Daniel Attard of Malta and Nikola Minchev of Bulgaria, have confirmed attending matches at the invitation of contacts linked to Huawei. Both deny any wrongdoing.
Attard said he was unaware of Huawei’s involvement and welcomed the recordings as evidence supporting his account.
Minchev said he was invited by a friend and did not know Huawei was behind the event.
Match tickets and smartphones
Prosecutors allege that Huawei’s approach involved first inviting parliamentary assistants, then MEPs, to the football box. The hospitality reportedly included match tickets and Huawei smartphones.
Authorities are investigating whether these actions constituted bribery or improper influence.
RSC Anderlecht stated it was unaware of the investigation and will not renew its contract with Huawei. The club said it had not received any notification from authorities about the surveillance.
Foreign influence
The European Parliament, which has faced recent lobbying scandals, has tightened its rules but continues to grapple with foreign influence.
The bugging operation at Anderlecht is part of a broader effort by Belgian authorities to address concerns about external actors seeking to sway EU decision-making.
The investigation is ongoing, with further legal action possible as authorities review the evidence collected from the stadium and other locations.
The case underscores the risks of foreign lobbying in Brussels and the challenges of maintaining transparency in EU institutions.