What happened to Tomas Danilevicius?
Anybody remember Tomas Danilevicius? Arsène Wenger signed him in December 2000, having impressed on trial with Arsenal, scoring in a pre-season friendly against Barcelona [Video Below]
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IftZJ5f_UY4
The Lithuania international striker briefly played for Arsenal during the 2000/01 campaign.
Given his Premiership debut as a substitute in that month’s 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland, he also featured in the next match at Charlton and FA Cup Third Round win at Carlisle.
He was loaned to Dunfermline before rejoining Beveren in July 2001 and has since played for Italian sides Livorno and Avellino.
What happened to Tomas Danilevicius?
Well a Home Office investigation saw that he entered Britain on a false passport. Danilevicius, used a Greek passport to move from Swiss club Lausanne in a £500,000 deal in December.
Arsenal fear they could be punished for fielding an ineligible player, but have said only the player would face sanctions unless it was proved the club knew there was a problem with the passport.
The Home Office was handed papers relating to Danilevicius’s passport. Without commenting on the specific case, a spokesman said: “It is an offence to employ someone who is not eligible to work here, and it is regarded very seriously. It would be highly unlikely that the company would be punished in such a case. It is the person concerned who would be removed from the country.”
Arsenal have maintained they acted in good faith, believing the striker’s documentation was valid when the club signed and registered him.
Danilevisicius now 33 is currently playing in Italy for Livorno.
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