Zurich (AFP)
Fifa President Gianni Infantino, targeted by criminal proceedings in Switzerland, "thinks he is untouchable", said Thursday his deposed predecessor Sepp Blatter who calls for the opening of an investigation by the Ethics Commission of the instance.
At the head of Fifa since 2016, Mr. Infantino "left in a situation where he thinks he is untouchable. It's megalomania", judged Mr. Blatter, in an interview with AFP.
The boss of world football has been targeted since July 30 by criminal proceedings in Switzerland, the extraordinary federal prosecutor considering that there are "elements of reprehensible behavior in connection with the meeting between the Attorney General Michael Lauber, the President of Fifa and the first prosecutor of Haut-Valais ", Rinaldo Arnold, childhood friend of Mr. Infantino.
The offenses concerning Mr. Infantino are "incitement to abuse of authority", "violation of official secrecy" and "obstruction of criminal proceedings".
In a recent letter to the 211 member federations of Fifa, Mr. Infantino once again explained that these meetings, for which there is no written record "were by no means secret and certainly not illegal" and that "no element tangible or factual basis "does not support this criminal procedure.
For Mr. Blatter, himself targeted by criminal proceedings and suspended (until 2021) by the internal justice of Fifa for a controversial payment of 2 M CHF to Michel Platini, the Ethics Commission of the instance " should immediately open an investigation and disclose it as they did against me. "
But for the Valaisan, this Ethics Commission "is not independent" because "Infantino has locked the control bodies and this is very worrying".
In June, the investigation against Mr. Blatter regarding the payment of the CHF 2 million was extended to Mr. Platini. As such, Mr. Blatter will be heard by the Swiss courts on September 1 and Mr. Platini the day before.
© 2020 AFP