Berlin (AP) - Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter faces further legal trouble. The Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office (BA) is investigating the 84-year-old in the event of a million payment by the World Association to the National Association in Trinidad and Tobago (TTFF) from 2010.
This is evident from documents from the authority that are available to the German Press Agency. Accused persons are also two other former top officials of FIFA. Blatter, who headed FIFA from 1998 to 2015, is accused of unfaithful business management. The AP news agency reported first.
"The presumption of innocence applies to all parties involved in the process," said the BA. "I have taken note of the allegation, but reject it as completely unjustified," said Blatter when asked by the German Press Agency.
The Swiss BA has been conducting criminal proceedings against Blatter since September 2015 for paying FIFA millions to Michel Platini, formerly President of the European Football Union, which cost both officials the career. A partial case due to other allegations was closed in May 2020. The procedure has now been expanded.
On the new allegations, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said that FIFA's loan to TTFF on April 13, 2010 was "neither interest-bearing nor secured by equivalent assets". The amount was "not repaid and was allegedly converted into a subsidy in the same year". The purpose of the transfer is not explained.
During the period in question, the President of the TTFF was Jack Warner, 77, who was later suspended for life by the FIFA Ethics Committee for corruption offenses and also played a key role in the FIFA process in the United States. Warner, who rejects all allegations, has so far successfully resisted extradition from his home country.
World association FIFA
Federal prosecutor