CRIMINAL proceedings have been launched against Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
The shock revelations comes following an investigation by the Swiss special federal public prosecutor Stefan Keller.
Criminal proceedings have been launched against Fifa president Gianni InfantinoCredit: PA:Press Association
Meetings between Infantino, Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber and the chief public prosecutor of the Upper Valais, Rinaldo Arnold are being looked into.
A statement from the Swiss federal council said Keller has concluded that there are “indications of criminal conduct” in connection with those meetings.
Both Lauber and Infantino have denied wrongdoing. Fifa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The statement added: “This concerns abuse of public office (Article 312 of the Swiss Criminal Code), breach of official secrecy (Article 320 of the Swiss Criminal Code), assisting offenders (Article 305 of the Swiss Criminal Code) and incitement to these acts.
“Additional criminal acts and the commencement of further proceedings remain reserved.”
INFANTINO SLAMS ‘ABSURD’ CLAIMS
It was confirmed in the same statement that Keller is seeking approval from the relevant Swiss parliamentary committees to open criminal proceedings against Lauber.
The statement concluded: “The presumption of innocence applies to attorney general Michael Lauber, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and chief public prosecutor Rinaldo Arnold.”
Lauber and Infantino met twice in 2016, the year Infantino was elected Fifa president.
Infantino, 50, was asked about the case at last month’s Fifa Council meeting, and described the formal complaints against him as “absurd”.
He said at the time: “To meet with the head prosecutor or attorney general of Switzerland is perfectly legitimate and it’s perfectly legal.”
Infantino was elected in 2016 to replace disgraced Sepp Blatter, who also become the subject of criminal proceedings in 2015.
Blatter, suspected of criminal mismanagement, was banned by Fifa’s own ethics committee although the investigations against him are still ongoing and he has not been charged.
He denies wrongdoing.
On being elected, Infantino promised to clean up Fifa and to put the focus back on football.
Fifa was embroiled in the worst corruption scandal in its history in 2015 which led to several officials being indicted in the United States on corruption-related charges.
Lauber last week offered to resign after a court concluded he had covered up a meeting with Infantino and lied to supervisors while his office investigated corruption surrounding soccer’s governing body.
Lauber officially tendered his resignation on Tuesday, his office said, with his last day of active duty set for August 31.
President Donald Trump meets with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House after winning 2026 World Cup bid with Mexico and Canada
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
