The Swiss Attorney General have open criminal proceedings against FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, with the veteran FIFA boss suspected of criminal mismanagement or misappropriation over a television deal he signed with Caribbean head honcho Jack Warner in 2005.
His troubles do not stop there though, as Blatter is also suspected of making ‘a disloyal payment’ of £1.35million to UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011.
Blatter was interrogated on Friday after a meeting of FIFA’s Executive Committee in Zurich. His office at FIFA was searched and certain data was seized.
Blatter’s lawyer released a statement denying any wrong-doing, which read: “Mr Blatter is co-operating and we are confident that when the Swiss authorities have a chance to review the documents and the evidence they will see that the contract was properly prepared and negotiated by the appropriate staff members of FIFA who were routinely responsible for such contracts, and certainly no mismanagement occurred.”
Blatter will be replaced as FIFA president in February and is expected to remain in charge, unless he is officially charged or any more allegations are investigated.
Blatter is just the latest in a long line of corruptions allegations involving FIFA officials. The FIFA president has always denied any wrong-doing.
Should Sepp Blatter step-down as FIFA president now?
