Switzerland: criminal proceedings against Jérôme Valcke and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (World Cup TV rights)

"The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) 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," announced Swiss Justice on 12/10/2017.

This criminal proceeding follows an investigation initiated on 20/03/2017, due to "suspicion of bribery of private individuals, fraud, criminal mismanagement, and forgery of a document. 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," added the Swiss Federal Public Prosecutor.

Jérôme Valcke, suspected of being involved in a system of the resale of match tickets on the black market for the 2014 World Cup tickets, was relieved of his duties as FIFA secretary general "with immediate…