PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi and former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke subject of criminal proceedings

The office of the Swiss attorney general has opened criminal proceedings against Paris St Germain chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi and former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke in relation to World Cup media rights.

Valcke is suspected of ‘accepting undue advantages’ in connection to the sale of media rights for the World Cups in 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030.

Al-Khelaifi, according to the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, is accused of handing Valcke ‘undue advantages’ for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.

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Both have been subject of an investigation which was opened on March 20, 2017.

An OAG statement read: “The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has opened a criminal proceeding against the former Secretary General of FIFA and against the Chief Executive Officer of the BEIN MEDIA GROUP LLC in connection with the award of World Cup media rights.

“It is suspected that Jérôme Valcke accepted undue advantages from a businessman in the sports rights sector in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser Al-Khelaifi in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030.

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“As part of the investigation opened in March 2017, on 12 October 2017 representatives of the OAG interviewed Jérôme Valcke in Switzerland as a suspect.

“At the same time, in cooperation with the competent authorities in France, Greece, Italy and Spain, properties were searched in various locations. In terms of the request for mutual legal assistance the OAG was in attendance when these procedures took place

“No one has been on remand. The presumption of innocence applies.”

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