Embattled Debartolo Steps Down 49ers Owner, Ex-Louisiana Governor Face Indictment For Gambling Fraud

Edward DeBartolo Jr., whose San Francisco 49ers won five Super Bowls under his leadership, stepped down as owner Tuesday after two Louisiana newspapers reported he would be indicted for gambling fraud.

DeBartolo said that pending the outcome of the investigation, his sister, Marie Denise DeBartolo York, will take over as chairman of the 49ers and Carmen Policy will continue as president and chief executive officer.

The newspapers reported that DeBartolo and former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards are among at least six people notified they soon will be indicted by a federal grand jury.

“These charges simply are not true,” DeBartolo said in a statement.

“I look forward to the time when I can address these issues and tell my side of the story.”

Policy will continue to run the 49ers’ day-to-day operations and replace DeBartolo as the team’s representative to the NFL for league business.

DeBartolo said he also was stepping aside from any role in the project to build a new stadium for the 49ers in San Francisco.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the NFL had been aware of the grand jury investigation and that it would be “inappropriate to comment on the legal proceedings involving Mr. DeBartolo while those matters remain subject to the judicial process.”

“Mr. DeBartolo and officials of the San Francisco 49ers also had made my office aware of the steps announced today with respect to the restructuring of the club’s management and Mr. DeBartolo’s decision to remove himself from any role in NFL and club operations pending the resolution of the legal proceedings.”

“The steps announced today will have no effect on the performance of the football team, the development of the new stadium or the quality operations that have characterized the 49ers for two decades,” Tagliabue said.

DeBartolo was ordered to appear before the federal grand jury in New Orleans last June as part of the investigation into gambling.

The inclusion of DeBartolo indicates the indictment includes events surrounding the awarding of a riverboat gambling license to a partnership that included DeBartolo and Hollywood Casino Corp.