Jérome Valcke received only a suspended sentence
Photo: MAXIM ZMEYEV / REUTERS
Former FIFA General Secretary Jérome Valcke and Paris St. Germains President Nasser Al-Khelaifi avoided several years' imprisonment in the corruption process in Switzerland.
Al-Khelaifi was acquitted by the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona on Friday, and Valcke received a suspended sentence in an attached trial.
The trial concerned allegations of corruption in connection with the granting of football media rights.
After ten days of hearing in September, the Swiss public prosecutor's office demanded several years' imprisonment for the defendants.
Valcke, who long acted as the right-hand man of former Fifa boss Joseph S. Blatter, was to receive a three-year prison sentence, Al-Khelaifi 28 months.
Al-Khelaifi was suspected of having secured the broadcasting rights to the world championships in 2026 and 2030 through gifts to Valcke.
Among other things, he is said to have granted Valcke rent-free access to a luxury property.
Valcke had to answer for alleged "passive bribery" and "multiple qualified unfaithful business management".
He was suspected of granting broadcast rights in exchange for bribes.
In an attached proceeding, Valcke received a fine of 120 daily sentences on probation for forging documents.
The 60-year-old, who had received 1.25 million euros from the Greek businessman Dinos Deris in order to allegedly favor certain media partners, was acquitted of the charge of "private corruption".
Valcke is said to have given the money wrong.
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aha / sid / dpa
