Audio By Carbonatix
Swiss prosecutors have opened criminal proceedings into Paris St-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
The proceedings are connected to an ongoing investigation into former Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke.
They relate to the sale of World Cup TV rights to Bein Sports, of which Al-Khelaifi is chief executive.
Last year, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) said it was investigating Valcke for "various acts of criminal mismanagement".
In a statement on Thursday, the OAG said the new proceedings involving Al-Khelaifi had been "opened on the basis" of its findings.
It said it was "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 new investigation - that which relates to Al-Khelaifi - is being conducted in partnership with authorities in France, Greece, Italy and Spain, and was opened in March 2017, the OAG said.
It added its representatives had interviewed Valcke as a suspect in Switzerland on Thursday.
Valcke was banned by Fifa for 10 years - although he has appealed against that ruling.
"FIFA fully supports the investigation conducted by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General as well as the other involved authorities that has become public today," a statement by the governing body said.
In a statement, Bein Media Group said: "Following a request by the OAG of Switzerland, the Bein Sports offices in Boulogne-Billancourt were searched this morning.
"The employees on site co-operated with the authorities until the end of the search.
"Bein Media Group refutes all allegations by OAG. The company will fully co-operate with the authorities and is confident as to the future developments of this investigation."
Latest Stories
-
Africa’s richest man helps fund $660m fuel pipeline between Ethiopia and Djibouti
23 minutes -
Security lapses at Utah campus where Charlie Kirk was killed, review says
27 minutes -
White House bars CNN from travelling with Trump on Air Force One
32 minutes -
Pope praises young people’s ‘energy and commitment’ at huge open-air Mass in Paris
41 minutes -
Nyankamam residents benefit from free medical screening, healthcare outreach
47 minutes -
Ghana, Boeing explore setting up regional aircraft maintenance hub
47 minutes -
Bangkok roads submerged as flood disaster declared
47 minutes -
Four killed in helicopter crash near Montreal
53 minutes -
Ghana could have national airline back in skies within 18 months – Boeing to Mahama
1 hour -
NDC suspends vetting exercise in Krowor constituency, reschedules to September 29
1 hour -
Extractive firms urged to strengthen cyber defences as digital risks grow
2 hours -
Photos: Mahama engages Ghanaian diaspora in New York on Ghana’s economic recovery
2 hours -
Man jailed 10 years for defiling 11-year-old girl at Kpandai
2 hours -
At least 27 people killed in two shootings in South African township
3 hours -
Iranian minister says only negotiation can end conflict after Trump rejects Hormuz deal
3 hours