By Andrew Warshaw
January 29 – Swiss prosecutors say they have been given crucial information by a whisteblower in the criminal investigation of suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter – and into FIFA itself.
The Swiss attorney general’s spokesman, André Marty, said the case was making progress and formal charges could be brought by the end of this year.
Marty told the German broadcaster ARD: “A witness, a so-called whistleblower, gave us interesting information relevant to the case which brought us markedly forward in the criminal investigation.”
Attorney general Michael Lauber’s office opened the investigation in September over suspected criminal mismanagement and misuse of FIFA money in two cases: a SFr2 million “disloyal payment” made by FIFA to UEFA president, Michel Platini, in 2011, on behalf of Blatter; and selling World Cup TV rights at a knock-down price to disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.
The day after the case was opened Blatter was quizzed at his office after chairing an executive committee meeting.
The veteran Swiss, who steps down after 18 years in charge, reportedly signed a contract in 2005 that gave Warner, FIFA’s former senior vice-president and long-time president of CONCACAF who is now banned for life, control of regional rights the 2010 and 2014 World Cups for a total of $600,000. Warner then sub-licensed the rights to broadcasters for sums reported to be more than $15 million.
Blatter, currently suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee for eight years along with Platini, faces a jail sentence of up to five years if convicted. “I think that it will be clear by the end of 2016 to the middle of 2017 whether there will be enough evidence to bring about a prosecution,” Marty said.
Blatter still hopes to host the FIFA presidential election congress on February 26 when his replacement will be elected but is looking increasingly unlikely.
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