Richard Rufus

Last updated

Richard Rufus
Born
Richard Raymond Rufus [1]

(1975-01-12) 12 January 1975 (age 49) [1]
Lewisham, England
OccupationProfessional football player
Association football career
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Centre back [1]
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1993–2004 Charlton Athletic 288 (12)
International career
1996–1997 England U21 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Criminal information
Criminal statusConvicted
Conviction(s) 12 January 2023
Criminal chargefraud, money laundering, carrying out a regulated activity without authorisation
Penaltyseven and a half years imprisonment

Richard Raymond Rufus (born 12 January 1975) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back, spending his entire career with one club, Charlton Athletic. He was also capped six times by England U21.

Contents

Rufus was part of both Charlton Athletic teams that earned promotion to the Premier League during the Alan Curbishley era, playing in the 1998 Football League First Division play-off final against Sunderland that were victorious on penalties. Two years later following relegation he was a regular in the team that won the First Division as champions. He would play for Charlton and in the top flight over the next few seasons before retiring at the end of the 2003–04 season. In 2005 he was voted as Charlton's greatest ever defender and was later inducted into their hall of fame in 2013. [2] In January 2023, he was convicted of fraud.

Club career

Born in Lewisham, London, [1] Rufus progressed through the youth system at The Valley, making his debut for the club as a teenager in 1994 at the age of 19.[ citation needed ]

In the 1995–96 season, the defender was placed in the PFA Team of the Year. His most memorable moment for Charlton came at the end of the 1997–98 season. Charlton, having finished fourth in the First Division, were facing Sunderland in the play-off final at Wembley. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Charlton were losing 3-2 before Rufus scored his first ever senior goal from a corner, forcing the game into extra-time. After the resulting 4–4 draw, the Addicks went on to win the game 7–6 on penalties, thus gaining promotion into the Premier League. [3]

Starting the 1998–99 season, despite being sent off in his first Premier League game against Newcastle United, Rufus developed into a key player in Charlton's ultimately unsuccessful bid to avoid relegation. He remained with the club and enjoyed a very productive 1999–2000 season scoring six goals and helping Charlton to win the First Division title. Back in the Premier League, Charlton were far more successful and remained in the top flight with ease. According to his defensive partner Gary Rowett, the pair and Luke Young were watched regularly by England scouts at this time. [4]

Starting in 2001, Rufus began to suffer a series of injury setbacks. He missed half of the 2001–02 season and the end of the 2002–03 season. He underwent a series of knee operations in 2003 and at one stage looked to have returned to first time reckoning, having appeared on the bench for a League Cup game against Luton Town. He was, however, forced to have another operation done by Richard Steadman. The operation was unsuccessful, and he was forced to retire from football in 2004 at the age of 29. [5] The 2002–03 season saw his final competitive appearance for the club coming against Liverpool on 21 April 2003. [6] Weeks after his retirement, Rowett retired through the same injury too. [7]

In his decade in Charlton's first team, he was regarded as one of the team's most important players. This was recognised by three player of the year awards and in 2005 he was voted by fans as Charlton's greatest ever defender. In May 2013, Rufus was inducted into the Charlton Athletic Hall of Fame. [8]

International career

He was capped six times by the England national under-21 team from 1996 to 1997. [9]

Personal life

Since retiring, Rufus, a born again Christian, has been involved with charity work, alongside friends and fellow Christian footballers Darren Moore and Linvoy Primus, as well as occasionally doing punditry work. [10]

In December 2013, Rufus was declared bankrupt after a £6 million failed investment, [11] which cost his church £5m. [12]

In November 2015, Rufus was branded a fraudster by a specialist civil court judge following an £8 million loss to investors. [13] Rufus had operated a £16m Ponzi scheme involving over 100 investors including members of his family and congregation members of churches he had attended. He pocketed more than £3 million to fund his lifestyle. The Insolvency Service described the case as "one of the worst" ever. Rufus was given a 15-year bankruptcy restriction order. [14] At the end of November, he left his roles with Charlton Athletic in the club's academy and the Community Trust following the fraud investigation. [15]

In August 2019, Rufus was due to appear in court in respect of foreign currency exchange fraud of up to £9 million, between 2007 and 2012. The case was adjourned. [16] After numerous delays the trial commenced in November 2022. [17]

On 12 January 2023, his 48th birthday, Rufus was sentenced to 7+12 years in prison after being found guilty of fraud, money laundering and carrying out a regulated activity without authorisation at Southwark Crown Court. [18] The judgement stated that Rufus claimed to be a successful foreign exchange trader and convinced people to invest in a "low-risk" scheme. [19]

Honours

Charlton Athletic

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlton Athletic F.C.</span> Association football club in London, England

Charlton Athletic Football Club is a professional association football club based in Charlton, south-east London, England. The team compete in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003–04 FA Premier League</span> 12th season of the Premier League

The 2003–04 FA Premier League was the 12th season of the Premier League. Arsenal were crowned champions ending the season without a single defeat – the first team ever to do so in a 38-game league season. Chelsea finished second to Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Parker</span> English footballer and manager (born 1980)

Scott Matthew Parker is an English professional football coach and former player. He was most recently the manager of Club Brugge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Bowyer</span> English footballer and manager

Lee David Bowyer is an English football manager and former professional player. He is currently the head coach of Montserrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Lee</span> English footballer

Robert Martin Lee is an English former professional footballer and sports co-commentator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Townsend</span> Irish footballer

Andrew David Townsend is a former professional footballer and sports co-commentator for Premier League Productions and CBS Sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Hughes (footballer, born 1976)</span> English footballer

Stephen John Hughes is an English former professional footballer and pundit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Elliott (footballer)</span> Footballer (born 1968)

Matthew Stephen Elliott is a former professional footballer, most notably as a defender for Leicester City. Born in England, he was never selected to play for them on an international level; he instead played for the Scotland national team, for whom he was eligible due to his Scottish grandmother.

Mark Anthony Kinsella is an Irish football manager and former player, currently a coach at Drogheda United after previously being both the manager and assistant manager. He played as a central midfielder for most of his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Halford</span> English footballer

Gregory Halford is an English footballer who plays for Isthmian League Premier Division club Hashtag United. He is naturally a right-back or centre-back but can play in numerous positions including central midfield, right midfield and even as a striker.

Paul Marcellus Elliott is an English former footballer who played as a defender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Randolph</span> Irish footballer

Darren Edward Andrew Randolph is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club AFC Bournemouth and the Republic of Ireland national team. He has previously played for the Republic of Ireland U21 team. Randolph has also represented Ireland at basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Holt</span> English footballer and coach

Grant Holt is an English former professional footballer who is currently a scout at West Ham United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Rowett</span> English association football player

Gary Rowett is an English professional football manager and former player, who most recently managed Championship club Millwall.

Neil Andrew Heaney is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Shinnie</span> Scottish footballer

Andrew Murray Shinnie is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Livingston.

The 2001–02 season was Manchester United's tenth season in the Premier League, their 100th season in league football, and their 27th consecutive season in the top division of English football. The second full season of the new millennium was a great disappointment for the Red Devils in comparison to the previous three years. The club finished in third place in the Premier League, their lowest finish in the history of the Premier League at the time, and they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round. League Cup success was not expected, and the club duly obliged by playing what was effectively a reserve team against a strong Arsenal side in the third round, the day after both teams were on League duty. United's best success in the 2001–02 season came in the UEFA Champions League, in which they reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by Bayer Leverkusen on away goals. Ultimately, United's failure to win anything boiled down a dismal run of form in November and early December when they suffered five defeats in seven league games, including three defeats in a row against Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United in December. They also lost six home games in the Premier League, their worst home record since the 1977–78 season. They only lost three more league games all season, but that terrible form earlier in the campaign counted against United for the rest of the campaign and they finished 10 points behind champions Arsenal and three points behind runners-up Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South London derby</span> Local football rivalries

The South London derby is the name given to a football derby contested by any two of Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Sutton United, and AFC Wimbledon, the five professional Football Association clubs that play in the Football League in South London, England. It is sometimes more specifically called the South East London derby when played between Charlton and Millwall. The close geographical proximity of all the teams contributes significantly to the rivalries.

During the 2004–05 English football season, Charlton Athletic competed in the FA Premier League.

During the 2002–03 English football season, Charlton Athletic competed in the FA Premier League.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Richard Rufus". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  2. "Footballer turned financial adviser bankrupted". Bridging & Commercial. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2021. He was inducted into the Charlton Athletic Hall of Fame in May this year.
  3. Stevens, Rob (24 May 2019). "Charlton v Sunderland 1998: The greatest play-off final ever?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. Cawley, Richard (8 November 2019). "Millwall boss Gary Rowett: Charlton was the most frustrating spell of my playing career – injury forced me to retire as I hit my prime". London News Online. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  5. "Rufus forced to retire". BBC Sport. 3 June 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  6. "Reds' late show stuns Charlton". BBC Sport. 21 April 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  7. "Rowett forced to retire". BBC Sport. 6 July 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  8. "Footballer turned financial adviser bankrupted". Bridging & Commercial. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2021. He was inducted into the Charlton Athletic Hall of Fame in May this year.
  9. "England's matches: The under 21's: 1990–2000". England Football Online. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  10. "England's Richard Rufus: "God Gives You Peace and an Abandant Life"". Christian Today. 11 June 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  11. Arbuthnott, George (29 December 2013). "Ex-footballer scores £6m own goal". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  12. Brown, David; Keshik, Norhan (6 February 2014). "Footballer's investment own goals cost his church £5m". The Times. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  13. "Former Charlton Athletic defender Richard Rufus accused of £8m investor fraud". The Guardian. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  14. Rumsby, Ben (5 November 2015). "Richard Rufus stole almost £9 million through 'Ponzi' fraud, judge rules". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  15. "Richard Rufus leaves Charlton Athletic posts after fraud findings". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  16. Kirk, Tristan (5 August 2019). "Ex-footballer due in court over 'investment con worth £9 million'". Evening Standard . p. 9.
  17. Vaughan, Henry (29 November 2022). "Accused ex-Premier League star 'said Rio Ferdinand invested in trading scheme'". The Independent. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  18. "Richard Rufus: Ex-Premier League star jailed over £15m fraud". BBC News. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  19. "Ex-Premier League star Richard Rufus jailed for defrauding £15m out of friends and family". Sky News. 12 January 2023.
  20. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1996). The 1996–97 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 285. ISBN   978-1-85291-571-1.
  21. "Keane claims award double". BBC News. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 9 January 2019.