By Andrew Warshaw
April 14 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter (pictured), still under a six-year global ban from football at the age of 84 despite always protesting his innocence, has won a partial victory against his accusers with federal prosecutors in Switzerland agreeing to drop one of two cases against him for suspected criminal mismanagement.
The Swiss attorney general’s office has confirmed reports it is to close an investigation into the veteran Blatter’s alleged deals with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), then under control of the infamous Jack Warner, to sell World Cup broadcasting rights too cheaply.
“We confirm the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland …considers the criminal investigation into the partial facts and allegations concerning the contractual relationship with the CFU to be complete and ready for conclusion,” it said in a statement.
The OAG “intends to discontinue the proceedings”, it added, giving no reason for the decision.
The criminal investigation was opened in 2015 for “suspicion of unfair management and breach of trust,” and contributed to ending Blatter’s 17-year hold on the presidency.
Significantly, a second criminal proceeding against Blatter – for that notorious CHF 2 million “disloyal payment” he authorised to be paid to then UEFA president and FIFA vice president Michel Platini in 2011 which led to long bans for both of them – remains ongoing. FIFA last last year revealed it is filing a civil lawsuit against both one-time powerbrokers to recover the money.
The latest move by Swiss prosecutors raises questions over their role in proving corruption alongside the ongoing FIFAgate scandal driven by the US justice department.
Last month all bribery charges brought against BeIN Sport and Paris St Germain boss Nasser AI-Khelaifi relating to broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup were dropped by the Federal Court in Switzerland.
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