Swiss prosecutor to drop charge against ex-FIFA boss
Ap2001
Switzerland’s justice authorities have decided to close one of two investigations into the former president of the world football governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/ug
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday confirmed reports that it will drop charges against Blatter in connection to TV rights sold to the Caribbean Football Union, according to the Swiss news agency, Keystone-SDA.
However, 84-year old Blatter still faces a second criminal investigation over the controversial payment of CHF2 million ($2.1 million) to Michel Platini, the former president of the Union of European Associations (UEFA).
In 2015, a criminal investigation against Blatter was opened for “suspicion of unfair management and breach of trust.”
The Swiss prosecutors suspected Blatter of having signed a contract “unfavourable to FIFA” with the Caribbean football union, then under control of Jack Warner, who was banned from football for life and indicted for corruption by the justice authorities in the United States.
Under the deal, the Caribbean football union was granted TV rights for the 20101 and 2014 World Cups.
Blatter, FIFA president from 1998 to 2015, currently serves a six-year ban from participating in activities of the world football governing body.
More
More
The colourful world of Sepp Blatter
This content was published on
Publicity shy: two words that cannot be used to describe Sepp Blatter.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
FIFA corruption targeted in sweeping US, Swiss probes
This content was published on
Seven of the most powerful figures in global football face extradition to the United States on corruption charges after being arrested in Switzerland, where authorities also announced a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups.
This content was published on
The payment was conducted between the two former FIFA executives in 2011 and was instrumental in the duo receiving bans from football activities four years later. Both men have repeatedly denied that they did anything wrong. Last month, FIFA’s governance committee called for the body to take legal action on the payment, noting that the…
Federal court blocks Lauber’s attempt to rejoin FIFA case
This content was published on
Switzerland’s top court has upheld a previous ruling that Lauber’s closed-door meetings with FIFA’s head had raised the appearance of bias.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.