National Agency for Sport head addresses land mismanagement and budget disputes

Bogdan Matei, president of Romania’s National Agency for Sport (ANS), has addressed systemic issues regarding the management of state-owned land and institutional budgeting. Following a report from the Court of Accounts highlighting irregularities in the administration of public assets, Matei acknowledged a level of negligence in the oversight of state property.

The Court of Accounts identified significant irregularities, including the illegal leasing of public assets without government decisions and the unlawful registration of constructions on state land. These issues have reportedly led to public lands intended for sports and public health being converted into private property.

Additionally, Matei responded to allegations regarding the use of funds intended for athlete prizes to finance renovations at the ANS headquarters. He denied that funds were diverted, stating that the current budget did not allocate any specific amount for athlete awards. He noted that outstanding arrears for prizes amount to approximately 190 million lei, but maintained that the budget for the current period lacked the necessary provisions for these payments.