A Swiss court has opened a corruption probe
against Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari businessman
and chief executive of Paris Saint-Germain, and
former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
Al-Khelaifi is a key member of the organising
committee for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and was
described by French newspaper L'Equipe as "the
most powerful man in French football".
Switzerland's Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
said on Thursday: "It is suspected that Jerome
Valcke accepted undue advantages from a
businessman in the sports rights sector in
connection with the award of media rights for
certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018,
2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser Al-Khelaifi in
connection with the award of media rights for
certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026
and 2030."
The Paris offices of BeIN Sports were searched on
Thursday as part of a criminal probe against Valcke
and Al-Khelaifi, French authorities said.
The French financial prosecutor's office issued a
statement on Thursday saying that two of its
representatives, along with other French officials
dealing with anti-corruption and tax avoidance
affairs, had carried out the search.
It added that the operation had been carried out in
conjunction with the EuroJust body, a European
Union agency for cooperation in criminal matters,
and Swiss authorities.
Al Khelaifi's profile has risen in recent weeks as
PSG pursued and sealed a world record transfer of
Brazil forward Neymar from Barcelona for £198m.
The case stemmed from a wider investigation of
Fifa's business that saw criminal proceedings
opened against Valcke in March 2016.
Valcke was FIFA's secretary general under then-
president Sepp Blatter from 2007 until he was fired
in January 2016.
The French former TV presenter was in Switzerland
on Wednesday to testify at the Court of Arbitration
for Sport in his appeal hearing against a 10-year
ban by Fifa for financial wrongdoing and abuse of
expenses.
A Swiss court has opened a corruption probe
against Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari businessman
and chief executive of Paris Saint-Germain, and
former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
Al-Khelaifi is a key member of the organising
committee for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and was
described by French newspaper L'Equipe as "the
most powerful man in French football".
Switzerland's Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
said on Thursday: "It is suspected that Jerome
Valcke accepted undue advantages from a
businessman in the sports rights sector in
connection with the award of media rights for
certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018,
2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser Al-Khelaifi in
connection with the award of media rights for
certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026
and 2030."
The Paris offices of BeIN Sports were searched on
Thursday as part of a criminal probe against Valcke
and Al-Khelaifi, French authorities said.
The French financial prosecutor's office issued a
statement on Thursday saying that two of its
representatives, along with other French officials
dealing with anti-corruption and tax avoidance
affairs, had carried out the search.
It added that the operation had been carried out in
conjunction with the EuroJust body, a European
Union agency for cooperation in criminal matters,
and Swiss authorities.
Al Khelaifi's profile has risen in recent weeks as
PSG pursued and sealed a world record transfer of
Brazil forward Neymar from Barcelona for £198m.
The case stemmed from a wider investigation of
Fifa's business that saw criminal proceedings
opened against Valcke in March 2016.
Valcke was FIFA's secretary general under then-
president Sepp Blatter from 2007 until he was fired
in January 2016.
The French former TV presenter was in Switzerland
on Wednesday to testify at the Court of Arbitration
for Sport in his appeal hearing against a 10-year
ban by Fifa for financial wrongdoing and abuse of
expenses.
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