https://arab.news/9g2d9
- Former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke also on trial over World Cup rights
- Al-Khelaifi, who is also PSG's president, charged with inciting Valcke to commit 'aggravated criminal mismanagement'
BELLINZONA, Switzerland: Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and FIFA鈥檚 former secretary general Jerome Valcke went on trial in Switzerland on Monday accused of corruption in the attribution of World Cup TV rights.
The two men, who each face up to five years in prison if found guilty, are expected to give evidence Tuesday from 10:30 am (0830 GMT) at the Federal Court of Bellinzona, providing the three judges decide to continue the hearing.
The trial opened under another cloud as the defense claims suspicions of collusion between the Swiss prosecution and FIFA undermine its credibility.
On Monday, the defense opened by claiming the trial was 鈥渕uddied鈥� by the revelation of informal meetings between former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber and current FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Lauber resigned from his post in July and both men are under investigation for 鈥渙bstructing criminal proceedings.鈥�
FIFA's former secretary general Jerome Valcke arrives at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court prior to the opening of a corruption trial against him and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. (AFP)
Cristina Castellote, one of the prosecutors, said the complaints 鈥渉ave no influence on the validity鈥� of the evidence in the trial in Bellinzona.
Al-Khelaifi, who is also chairman of Qatar-owned broadcaster beIN Media, is charged with inciting Valcke to commit 鈥渁ggravated criminal mismanagement.鈥�
The trial, which has already been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, is scheduled to last until Sept. 25.
If the trial runs its course, it will be the first judgment handed down in Switzerland, the seat of most international sports organizations, on the 20 or so proceedings opened in the last five years surrounding FIFA.
Valcke, who until 2015 was the right-hand man of now ousted FIFA president Sepp Blatter, faces the bulk of the charges linked to two separate cases of television rights corruption.
The 59-year-old Frenchman stands accused of wanting to transfer the Middle East and North Africa rights for screening the 2026 and 2030 World Cups to beIN Media, in exchange for 鈥渦nwarranted benefits鈥� from Al-Khelaifi.
According to the prosecution, the case relates to a meeting on October 24, 2013 at the French headquarters of beIN, when Al-Khelaifi allegedly promised to buy a villa in Sardinia for five million euros ($5.9 million), granting its exclusive use to Valcke.
Al-Khelaifi, who has denied the charges, was then to hand the property over to the Frenchman two years later under certain conditions.
In return, the prosecution claims, Valcke committed to 鈥渄o what was in his power鈥� to ensure beIN would become the regional broadcaster for the two World Cups, something which happened on April 29, 2014, in an agreement that FIFA has never since contested.
Legally, however, it is no longer a question of 鈥減rivate corruption.鈥� The prosecution had to drop that qualification because of an 鈥渁micable agreement鈥� reached at the end of January between FIFA and Al-Khelaifi, the contents of which have not been made public.
So Valcke must now justify having 鈥渒ept for himself鈥� advantages 鈥渨hich should have gone to FIFA.鈥�
Al-Khelaifi, who as president of this year鈥檚 beaten Champions League finalists PSG is one of the most influential men in world football, faces a charge of 鈥渋nciting Valcke to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement.鈥�
鈥淭he major part of this file does not concern our client,鈥� Khelaifi鈥檚 lawyers have told AFP, describing the charges against him as 鈥渃learly artificial.鈥�
Al-Khelaifi denies buying the property in question or promising it to Valcke.
Valcke also stands accused of exploiting his position at FIFA between 2013 and 2015 to influence the awarding of media rights for Italy and Greece for various World Cup and other tournaments scheduled between 2018 and 2030 鈥渋n order to favor media partners that he preferred鈥� in exchange for payments from Greek businessman Dinos Deris, who has also been charged.
Valcke, who allegedly stood to receive 1.25 million euros ($1.5 million) in exchange, 鈥渄isputes the charges,鈥� his lawyer Patrick Hunziker says.