Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery paid over €30,000 for one of his brothers to play amateur football in France, it has been revealed by a French agent.
Ribery paid amateur side Bayonne the sum to cover the cost of obtaining a playing licence for his sibling Francois in 2010 shortly after he had found himself without a club after his previous team, Calais, had gone bankrupt.
The story, revealed in a book by agent Christophe Hutteau, was confirmed by a member of the Bayonne board.
"Franck Ribery paid the federal contract of his brother, which was around €33,000 to €35,000," Jean-Pierre Mainard told Sud Ouest. "One of our board members met Ribery at CERS in Capbreton where he was undergoing physiotherapy. That's how contact was made."
The story did not end happily, however, as Francois, who is four years younger than Franck, was only able to make three appearances for the south-west French club due to a series of injuries.
Another Ribery sibling, Steeven, 21, previously played for Bayern's reserve team and joined Ligue 2 side Gazelec Ajaccio this summer.