Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi is being investigated by the Swiss attorney general’s office (OAG) for bribery of a senior FIFA to obtain the broadcast rights of the 2018 to 2030 World Cups.
According to report, the criminal proceedings against the Qatari, BeIN CEO media group, former FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke and an unidentified businessman were disclosed on Thursday the Swiss prosecutors, however it launched in March.
This investigation particularly affects the granting of broadcasting rights for the next four World Cups from 2018 to 2030.
They stem from a more general investigation of FIFA, which also led to criminal charges against Valcke in March 2016. This investigation particularly affects the granting of broadcasting rights for the next four World Cups from 2018 to 2030.
The procedures against al-Khelaifi constitute one of the first direct links with Qatar, in spite of the important investigation launched in Switzerland, the United States and France against FIFA with the award to the 2018 World Cup applications and 2022, to be organised by Russia and Qatar.
“It is suspected that Jerome Valcke accepted undue advantages from businessman in the sports rights sector in connection with the award of media tights 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 the countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030.” the OAG said in a statement.
“As it announced in March 2016, the OAG is already conducting a proceeding against Jerome Valcake, in particular on suspicion of various acts of criminal mismanagement. This proceeding is still ongoing.” the OAG added.
BeIN Media Group refused to comment the investigation by Swiss (OAG). (Source:www.insidethegams.com)
World football body, FIFA, confirmed they will fully support the investigation by the Swiss and French authorities.
“FIFA fully supports the investigation conducted by the Swiss office of the attorney general as well as the other involved authorities that has become public today. FIFA has constituted itself as a damaged party in this investigation, in line with the applicable provisions of Swiss procedural law.” FIFA said in a statement.
BeIN Media Group on the other hand, they refused to comment this issue. However, they promised will fully cooperate with the authorities and is confident as to the future developments of this investigation.
