Accusations of corruption flew in the Belgian press.

Details were kept secret, but in February the Belgian press reported it to be metastatic melanoma and that treatment was not working.

Accusations were also made, and published in the Belgian press, involving drug and mafia money laundering connected with another subsidiary.

A former clergyman, he was dubbed "Father Bluebeard" by some of the Belgian press.

While there was no official statement of the amount, reports in the Belgian press mentioned as much as $2 million.

One spokesman said this week that the May 12 incident was widely known, since it had been "extensively covered in the Belgian press."

In 2002, he was elected by the Belgian press as sports personality of the year.

The Belgian press was unanimously enthusiastic and this resulted in lots of club-gigs.

He became a fan favourite, and was praised by the Belgian press at the end of the season.

The Belgian press did not expect him to come back.