Scrutiny of Everton's prospective buyer intensifies after airline collapse and New York fraud case

GENEVA (AP) — A grounded airline in Australia. A lawsuit in a New York federal court alleging fraud in connection to a $600 million loan. And angry soccer fans in England resisting a takeover of Premier League club Everton.

These are troubled times for Miami-based 777 Partners, the investment group that recently joined the wave of American owners in European soccer but is facing mounting problems in both the business and sporting world.

777 Partners owns soccer clubs in Germany, Italy, Belgium and Brazil but has failed to get approval for its bid to buy storied English club Everton — and the opposition is just growing stronger after its recent legal turmoil.

The Everton FC Shareholders' Association issued a statement on Tuesday calling on the club's board to “recognize that 777 Partners are not at this time fit-and-proper prospective owners.”