Acquitted or convicted.
These are the two options available to Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of BeIN sports and PSG, this Friday at 1:30 p.m., a month after the end of a trial in Switzerland in which he was accused by the Swiss courts of instigation of aggravated unfair management.
The verdict will be delivered orally in the Federal Criminal Court.
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was exempted from presence in Bellinzona, a Swiss city not far from Milan (Italy), because of the international health context which would have imposed a quarantine on his return to Qatar.
He will be represented by his lawyers.
In this case, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was suspected by the Swiss prosecution of having encouraged Jérôme Valcke, ex-secretary general of Fifa, the main accused in the case, not to declare undue advantages.
In this case, a villa in Sardinia that he would have acquired and made available to Jérôme Valcke in order to facilitate the obtaining of TV rights by BeIN Sports.
On September 24, Mes Mangeat, Margairaz and Bonnant closed the proceedings after a month of trial, pleading the “total” acquittal of their client.
If convicted, would he be forced to leave his post?
Two days before, the Swiss prosecution requested 28 months in prison, including 14 to 22 months suspended, against Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
Three years in prison were also required against Jérôme Valcke, again with a partial suspension.
It is "impossible to make a prognosis", slips a source close to this file.
In any case, the possibility of an appeal will exist from the Swiss prosecutor's office, representatives of the boss of PSG or those of the former secretary general of Fifa.
In the event of an appeal, an additional eight to ten months may be necessary before any new conclusion.
Then, an appeal to the Federal Tribunal, equivalent to the Court of Cassation, could further lengthen the procedure by a few years.
Suffice to say that the battle may not end this Friday, given the differences between the positions of the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office and the NAK camp.
One of the questions raised by a conviction of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi revolves around his multiple functions within European football bodies.
In addition to his status as president of PSG, the Qatari sits on the UEFA executive committee as well as the executive committee of the Association of European Clubs (ECA).
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the French LFP.
Would he be forced to leave these posts?
The internal regulations of each of these bodies specify certain provisions.
But none clearly indicates the consequence of a potential conviction.
"The question is not at all topical", we whisper in his entourage where the actors are reasonably optimistic in the possibility of the leader to continue to wear his multiple hats, whatever the verdict.
