Swiss prosecutors have opened criminal proceedings against FIFA president Sepp Blatter and questioned UEFA chief Michel Platini on a day of stunning developments at the world football body
The Swiss attorney general’s office issued a statement saying Blatter is suspected of criminal mismanagement or misappropriation over a TV rights deal he signed with ex-Caribbean chief Jack Warner in 2005.
He is also suspected of “a disloyal payment” in 2011 of two million Swiss francs (around €1.8 million) to Platini for work allegedly carried out by the Frenchman between 1999 and 2002.
Platini has been seen as the favourite to succeed Blatter as president of FIFA.
Officers from the Swiss Office of the Attorney General (OAG) interrogated Blatter at FIFA headquarters following a FIFA executive committee meeting yesterday. His office was searched and data seized.
Blatter has repeatedly insisted he is innocent of any wrongdoing amid allegations of scandal involving FIFA.
Platini’s alleged involvement casts a shadow over his hopes of succeeding Blatter, who is understood to be deciding whether to step down immediately rather than stick to his original plan of staying on until February 26 2016.
A “disloyal payment” is one that goes against the best interests of the organisation – and the question Platini will have to answer is why the alleged payment was not made until nine years down the line.
An OAG statement said: “Swiss criminal proceedings against the president of FIFA, Mr Joseph Blatter, have been opened on 24 September 2015 on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and – alternatively – misappropriation.
“On the one hand, the OAG suspects that on 12 September 2005 Mr Joseph Blatter has 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 a suspicion that, in the implementation of this agreement, Joseph Blatter also violated his fiduciary duties and acted against the interest of FIFA and/or FIFA Marketing & TV AG.
“Additionally, Mr Joseph Blatter is suspected of a disloyal payment of 2 million CHF (Swiss francs) to Michel Platini, president of 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 statement added: “On 25 September 2015, representatives of the OAG interrogated the defendant Joseph Blatter following a meeting of the FIFA executive committee. At the same time, Michel Platini was heard as a person asked to provide information.
“As for all defendants, the presumption of innocence applies for Mr Joseph Blatter.”
Earlier yesterday, FIFA had cancelled a news conference at its FIFA headquarters at the last minute.
Around 170 media had been accredited for the news conference in Zurich and were only told of the cancellation five minutes before it was due to start.
FIFA said it was co-operating with the investigation by the attorney general’s office.
Winter dates for Qatar WCup
FIFA announced yesterday that the 2022 World Cup, to be held in Qatar, will start on November 21 with the final to be played on December 18 – cutting four days off the length of the competition.
World football’s governing body had previously announced the date of the final but the start date of November 21 means the tournament will be just 28 days in duration – the shortest since the competition switched to a 32-team tournament in 1998.
The Qatar tournament will mark the first time that the event is held during Europe’s winter months – previously the competition had been held in June and July.