November 16 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he has no idea why Switzerland’s lead investigator into corruption within the organization was suspended from his role.
Last week it was reported that Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber had suspended his chief investigator for economic crimes, Olivier Thormann, whose overall role included criminal proceedings related to football and FIFA investigations.
No information was provided but Infantino insists it had nothing to do with him even though he is a friend of Thormann who has now been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Infantino said he had no contact with Thormann that might have led to the suspension or that would jeopardiSe the investigation those officials still under criminal suspicion. “Why would it?” Infantino told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the opening of CONCACAF’s new Miami office.
Unconfirmed Swiss media reports said Thormann had been cleared of taking bribes following an apparent tip-off about alleged criminal misconduct made to Lauber in September. The subsequent probe conducted by former Zurich public prosecutor Ulrich Weder apparently found that the claims were unfounded and that Thormann did not breach any rules.
Weder has confirmed that his probe into Thormann’s conduct has indeed been dropped without giving details but it is not yet known if Thormann has yet resumed his duties.
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