The Swiss attorney general has instituted criminal proceedings against FIFA President, Sepp Blatter over suspicions he violated his duties as head of football’s world governing body. Authorities said today that the outgoing FIFA chief was interrogated over suspected criminal mismanagement.
FIFA was said to have cancelled a news conference scheduled with Blatter today without explanation, just hours before the proceedings against him were announced.
Blatter was set to meet the international media at FIFA headquarters after a two-day executive committee meeting.
The Swiss federal office said Blatter was interrogated after chairing the meeting.
FIFA vice president Michel Platini was questioned as a witness over a “disloyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.05m) he received from Blatter in February 2011, Swiss authorities said, according to the Associated Press news agency.
The FIFA chief was facing accusations he misappropriated funds and violated his duties as the head of world football’s governing body.
“There is a suspicion that…Joseph Blatter also violated his fiduciary duties” to FIFA in connection with a contract with the Caribbean Football Union, a statement from Switzerland’s attorney general’s office said.
Information Swiss authorities released tied the proceedings with the case against former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who is wanted by Interpol for corruption.
“The name Jack Warner, the former disgraced FIFA vice-President comes up…accused of signing a contract to do a deal that didn’t work for FIFA, or were in FIFA’s interests in 2005,” Wellings said. [myad]
