November 9 – Austrian prosecutors are said to have dropped proceedings, stretching back almost three years, against the country’s FA President Leo Windtner (pictured) over a $100,000 payment made shortly before Sepp Blatter’s re-election as FIFA president in 2015.
Windtner was accused of irregularities over a FIFA sponsorship of a charity project supporting young footballers in Africa at the beginning of that year, the main patron of which was allegedly Windtner’s wife.
It was not known who at FIFA authorised the money which was reportedly initially wired to the Austrian FA (OeFB), which returned it to FIFA, saying it was not involved in the African project. FIFA was then reported to have transferred it directly to the project’s account.
It was claimed the funds were approved just after Windtner had said in an interview that he supported Blatter serving another term though the Austrian federation is understood to have ultimately voted for the hapless challenger Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.
Windtner, who became OFB president in 2009, confirmed at the time that the transfer had taken place but said it was used for a good cause and that he had nothing to hide.
Austrian newspapers say the public prosecutor’s office for economic and corruption affairs has now closed the case because “deliberate damage cannot be proven.”
“I am glad that this chapter is closed, I have always acted to the best of my knowledge and belief,” OÖ Volksblatt quoted Windtner as saying.
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