Belichick says he knew about preseason fundraising trip to Saudi Arabia taken by team's GM

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The ABC11 I-Team learned that University of North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick knew of the preseason fundraising trip to Saudi Arabia taken by the team's general manager.

The I-Team first reported about the trip, which was funded by the unnamed Saudi national.

For the first time since that reporting, Coach Belichick answered questions about the trip during a press conference on Tuesday.

Belichick went on to say he knew about the trip and knew the person who met with general manager Michael Lombardi.

"Yes, I am familiar with them and their connections and so forth," he said. "Do I have knowledge and a relationship? Absolutely, yes."

As the ABC11 I-Team previously reported, the university said the general manager traveled there at the request of the Saudi national, who is a college football fan and expressed interest in supporting coach Belichick.

Coach Belichick would not answer when the I-team asked if he thinks the meeting should have happened.

"I was aware of it, and it was talked about and the university released their statement in it. I mean, there's no secret," he said.

The university previously said in a statement that the trip did not lead to "investing in UNC."