Arsenal announced a new partnership with Chinese firm BYD Auto back in April of this year but now it seems that was part of a scam as the paperwork was signed by someone who isn't an employee of the firm.
It's an interesting time at Arsenal right now. They're currently preparing for a Premier League season without Arsene Wenger as their manager for the first time in 22 years.
Sure it'll look really weird on the first game of the season when the Frenchman isn't leading his club out but Unai Emery being in charge is also going to confuse the hell out of those 'Wenger Out' chaps, what will they protest about now?
But right now they have more pressing matters. In April they announced a new partnership with BYD Auto with a statement saying, "We are proud to become the first Premier League club to enter into a global electric vehicle partnership, and to do so with one of China's largest and best known companies. Electric vehicles are destined to form a big part of our transport future so we're delighted to welcome the world-leader in this field into our family of official partners."
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However according to reports, via Daily Mail, it has not been revealed that the person who sanctioned the deal from the Chinese company's side was not even an employee.
The suspect, Li Juan, has now been arrested and is being investigated by the police in Shanghai.
In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange the company, which provides busses for Transport for London said, "Recently, BYD Company Limited noticed that some media published or reproduced false reports about the Company, which involved misinterpretation of the Statement on Conducting Related Businesses by Li Juan and Other Related Persons through Illegal Use of the Name of BYD released by the Company on 12 July 2018 and distortion of facts.
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"Such reports caused the question to the Company from the public and negative impact on the Company, to some extent.
"Li Juan was suspected of committing a crime due to faking the identity of staff of BYD and using the forged seal to sign contracts, which BYD has reported to the police.
"The police is getting involved in the investigation and Li Juan currently has been taken for enforcement actions by the police."
As part of the agreement BYD were to get 'pitch side LED signage' and 'branding on dugout seats' at the Emirates Stadium as well as access to Arsenal legends.
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