Moya re-election bid gets big financial assist from new Queens soccer club
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Councilmember Francisco Moya (right) has received more than $15,000 from people tied to QBFC owners David Villa (left) and Jonathan Krane. Eagle file photo by David Brand
By David Brand
Queens Councilmember Francisco Moya’s passion for soccer is paying off in his bid for re-election.
People connected to new pro soccer club Queensboro FC and its owners Jonathan Krane and David Villa account for one-seventh of Moya’s campaign contributions, according to an analysis by the Eagle.
Moya, who represents Council District 21 and has championed a plan to build a soccer stadium in Willets Point, has received at least $15,375 from people with ties to the two owners, financial disclosure records show.
The contributors include Krane’s mother Diane Krane, Villa’s business partner Richard Seet and the wife of QBFC’s chief business officer. Krane’s brother-in-law and employees at his company KraneShares have also chipped in, financial records show.
People connected to Krane and Villa, a retired soccer superstar from Spain, account for five of Moya’s nine contributions of $2,000 more. Moya has raised a total of $98,944.
A campaign spokesperson said Moya plans to reimburse all contributions over $1,000 because he is participating in the city’s public matching funds program. The New York City Campaign Finance Board website does not yet reflect those reimbursements.
“Francisco is a lifelong soccer fan, is excited to have a team in Queens, and has been working with the team throughout COVID, in the hardest hit communities, to deliver essential PPE and meals to hospitals, food pantries, and those in need,” the spokesperson said.
Moya, a soccer enthusiast and devout supporter of the club FC Barcelona, has chaired a task force that proposed building a soccer-specific stadium at Willets Point — a project that would likely benefit the new Queens team.
He has also helped shepherd the creation of QBFC, which plans to begin play next year, and developed a professional and personal relationship with Villa.
Moya made frequent appearances with Villa before the Spanish striker was accused of sexual harassment by a former intern at his old club, NYCFC. Moya did no respond to questions about the harassment allegations.
QBFC has not yet announced where they will play home games next year after initially indicating that they would take the field at York College in Jamaica, outside Moya’s district.
During an appearance on WBAI on Sunday, QBFC Chief Business Officer Adam Behnke said the club was “still in very good discussions” with the CUNY school.
“Our hope is to anchor in Queens and we really truly believe that’s critical to the success of the club,” he said. “We are very hopeful about Jamaica and York College.”
Behnke also addressed the sexual harassment accusations against Villa, who allegedly touched, propositioned and demeaned a 20-year-old woman throughout her time interning on the training staff at NYCFC.
“At Queensboro FC, we very much are against sexual harassment and we have taken this as a big opportunity to implement policies so that all of our employees in the front office, the training rooms and anyone who comes into contact with us feels safe, and that it’s a welcoming and comforting environment,” Benhke said.
“We’re committed to establishing and maintaining an open and transparent organization,” he added.
QBFC and Seet did not provide a response to questions for this story.
