December 23 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has dismissed allegations of criminal mismanagement relating to a museum project launched by Blatter towards the end of his tenure.
Ever since Gianni Infantino took over from the veteran Blatter, FIFA has been relentlessly pursuing its former boss over a range of issues and in the latest has filed a criminal complaint with Zurich’s cantonal prosecutor against both Blatter and members of his management team relating to the home of the world football museum in the city.
Blatter has already faced separate criminal charges levelled by FIFA but has not been convicted of any criminal behaviour.
The new complaint filed against Blatter and “other persons” refers to what FIFA says are museum project costs of CHF 500 million, and “identifies that the previous FIFA administration poured CHF 140 million into renovating and refurbishing a building that the organisation doesn’t own, while also locking itself into a long-term rental agreement on unfavourable terms when compared to standard market rates, which, in total, will cost FIFA CHF 360 million by the date of expiration in 2045.”
In a short response Blatter’s lawyer Lorenz Erni commented: “The accusations are baseless and are vehemently repudiated.”
See FIFA delves into history to file new criminal complaint to beat Blatter with
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