The Swiss attorney general has opened proceedings against FIFA President Sepp Blatter, with Michel Platini potentially implicated.
A planned press conference at the governing body’s headquarters was cancelled earlier today, with no apparent motivation.
However, the Swiss attorney general has now released a statement confirming Blatter is under investigation for alleged payments to UEFA President Michel Platini and former head of the Carribbean association, Jack Warner.
The Swiss attorney general has opened proceedings against FIFA President Sepp Blatter, with Michel Platini potentially implicated.
A planned press conference at the governing body’s headquarters was cancelled earlier today, with no apparent motivation.
However, the Swiss attorney general has now released a statement confirming Blatter is under investigation for alleged payments to UEFA President Michel Platini and former head of the Carribbean association, Jack Warner.
“The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has opened criminal proceedings against the President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on suspicion of criminal mismanagement as well as – alternatively – on suspicion of misappropriation,” the document begins.
“On the one hand, the OAG suspects that on 12 September 2005 Mr. Joseph Blatter signed a contract with the Caribbean Football Union (with Jack Warner as the President at this time); this contract was unfavourable for FIFA.
“On the other hand, there is as suspicion that, in the implementation of this agreement, Joseph Blatter also violated his fiduciary duties and acted against the interest of FIFA.
“Additionally, Mr. Joseph Blatter is suspected of a disloyal payment of 2 million Swiss Francs to Michel Platini, President of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) at the expense of FIFA, which was allegedly made for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002; this payment was executed in February 2011.
“The office of the FIFA President has been searched and data seized. As for all defendants, the presumption of innocence applies for Mr. Joseph Blatter.”