BELLINZONA, Switzerland (Reuters) – Former FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and Qatari sports activities and broadcasting govt Nasser Al-Khelaifi go on trial on Monday in the appeals court of Switzerland’s federal legal court, in a bribery case involving World Cup media rights.
Valcke, who was secretary common of the world soccer physique from 2007 to 2015, was cleared in 2020 of accepting bribes and aggravated legal mismanagement, however Swiss prosecutors have appealed the ruling.
Valcke was sentenced on the time to a suspended financial penalty for forging paperwork.
Al-Khelaifi, chairman of Qatar-based media group BeIN Sports and chairman of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (PSG), in addition to a 3rd defendant, a Greek businessman, have been cleared of inciting Valcke to commit aggravated legal mismanagement – a verdict prosecutors additionally appealed.
The benefits Valcke allegedly acquired, together with the rent-free use of a villa owned by Al-Khelaifi in Sardinia and funds from the Greek businessman, have been linked to the awarding of media rights for FIFA World and Confederations Cups.
In the 2020 trial, the court stated Valcke did obtain undue benefits however the media contracts Al-Khelaifi’s firm signed with FIFA, a celebration in the case, have been however financially engaging for FIFA.
Bribery fees in opposition to Al-Khelaifi have been dropped forward of the 2020 trial after FIFA reached an settlement with Al-Khelaifi.
Both Valcke and Al-Khelaifi, who can be a member of European soccer physique UEFA’s govt committee, have denied any wrongdoing.
Valcke, aged 61, has been banned from all football-related exercise till mid-2032 by FIFA’s ethics committee for violating its ethics code.
(Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
