Switzerland: Al-Khelaïfi, boss of beIN and PSG, accused in a corruption case - France 24

Geneva (AFP)

Swiss justice announced Thursday that it indicted Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, boss of the television group beIN Media and Paris SG, and the former N.2 of Fifa Jérôme Valcke, in a corruption case linked to the attribution of rights World Cup TV.

In a statement, the office of the Swiss Attorney General (MPC) said it had charged the two men "in the context of the allocation of media rights to different FIFA World Cups and FIFA Confederations Cups".

The MPC accuses Mr. Valcke of "passive corruption, multiple and qualified unfair management and forgery in the titles", while Mr. Al-Khelaïfi and another man, active in the field of sports rights but whose Swiss justice does not not give the name, are accused of "instigating qualified unfair management committed" by the former secretary general of Fifa.

This third man is also accused of "active corruption".

- Villa in Sardinia -

According to the MPC, Mr. Valcke, between 2013 and 2015, used his influence as secretary general of Fifa "to influence in favor of media partners of his preference the processes of allocation of media rights, for Italy and Greece, from different Football World Cups and FIFA Confederations Cups from 2018 to 2030 ".

The investigation revealed, explains the MPC, that Mr. Valcke obtained undue benefits from the two co-defendants. The former number two of Fifa thus obtained, according to Swiss justice, the reimbursement of a deposit of approximately 500,000 euros which he had paid to third parties for a villa in Sardinia, this after the purchase of the villa by Mr. Al-Khelaïfi, via a company.

Mr. Valcke then obtained from Mr. Al-Khelaïfi the right of exclusive enjoyment of the villa for a period of 18 months in total - until his suspension from Fifa - without having paid a rent for this. '' an estimated value between around 900,000 and 1.8 million euros.

Mr. Valcke, also suspended 10 years by Fifa for other acts of corruption, also received from the third man three payments with a total value of 1.25 million euros to his company Sportunited Sarl.

The MPC accuses Mr. Valcke of having "enriched himself illegally" and of not having announced the "advantages" received at Fifa, "thus behaving in a manner contrary to his duties within the framework of his activity of secretary general "of the organization.

© 2020 AFP