PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi under criminal investigation

A Swiss court has opened a corruption probe against Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari businessman and chief executive of Paris Saint-Germain, and former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.

Al-Khelaifi is a key member of the organising committee for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and was described by French newspaper L’Equipe as “the most powerful man in French football”.

Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said on Thursday: “It is suspected that Jerome Valcke accepted undue advantages from a businessman in the sports rights sector in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser Al-Khelaifi in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030.”

The Paris offices of BeIN Sports were searched on Thursday as part of a criminal probe against Valcke and Al-Khelaifi, French authorities said.

The French financial prosecutor’s office issued a statement on Thursday saying that two of its representatives, along with other French officials dealing with anti-corruption and tax avoidance affairs, had carried out the search.

It added that the operation had been carried out in conjunction with the EuroJust body and Swiss authorities.

In March last year, the OAG said Valcke was suspected of criminal mismanagement and other offences.

Valcke has denied any wrongdoing.

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