Swiss prosecutors announced on Friday that they had dropped their three-year-old criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino for alleged collusion with officials in connection with a corruption scandal. which encompassed the international community.
Infantino declared a “complete and clear victory” in the case and demanded an apology from what he called “jealous and evil” people who tarnished his name.
An investigation was opened in July 2020 to investigate suspicions of collusion between Infantino and Switzerland’s attorney general Michael Lauber, the country’s top prosecutor.
Lauber oversees Switzerland’s investigation into the massive corruption scandal that erupted at the heart of Zurich-based FIFA in 2015.
But he was forced to recuse himself from the trial in June 2019, after the media revealed that he had held several meetings with Infantino during the trial.
Two special prosecutors were assigned to the case, but in a statement on Friday, they said the investigation was closed, including the prosecution.
“The criminal proceedings have been terminated,” the statement said.
“The suspicion of using the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland by FIFA was not confirmed during the full investigation.
“On the other hand, doubt is denied.”
In a statement, FIFA expressed its “great satisfaction” with the decision, saying it was only surprising how long it took to reach a “clear conclusion”.
“Today’s new FIFA is a clean, well-run and stable organization that operates according to high standards and governance,” he said.
For his part, Infantino, 53, said it was “a complete and clear victory, for the new FIFA and for justice”.
“It is clear now that the charges against me are just an attempt by poor, jealous and corrupt people to damage my reputation. If these people have any dignity, they deserve at least an apology for what they have done work and the damage done,” he said.
“Certainly and unsurprisingly, the investigation has fully confirmed that I have always acted in a fair and just manner, always protecting the interests of FIFA and football.”
[GNN]
