High-profile case of bribery of members of the Executive Committee of the International football Federation (FIFA), the persons involved which was just four well-known German functionary, including the famous Franz Beckenbauer, came to nothing. The Swiss court was forced to terminate him without a verdict, was released as the Statute of limitations. It is noteworthy that the accused helped the pandemic coronavirus. Because of her, the Swiss authorities have banned to persons over 65 years of age to attend public places, which automatically led to the suspension of the process. Meanwhile in Switzerland, the ongoing scandal that involves the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and the country’s Prosecutor General Michael Lauber, who led the “case of Beckenbauer”. Mr. Lauber is suspected that he also contributed to the closure of the case, the defendant was Gianni Infantino.In Switzerland concluded consideration of the case of fraud, the persons involved which was just four famous German football functionary. Charges were brought against the ex-President of the German football Association (DFB) Theo Zwanziger, former Secretary-General of the Horst Rudolf Schmidt, Vice-President of the organizing Committee of the 2006 world Cup in Germany Wolfgang Niersbach and former Secretary-General of FIFA Ursu Lindsay. In addition to the case was listed and the famous Franz Beckenbauer, who headed the organizing Committee of the 2006 world Cup. But he still managed to avoid a trial. The essence of the charges was that the above persons had bribed several members of the FIFA Executive Committee to vote for Germany in the elections of the host country of the 2006 world Cup. According to investigators, back in 2000, the head of Adidas, Robert Louis-Dreyfus turned to 10.3 million Swiss francs in the bid Committee “Germany-2006”. These funds were to go to the needs of the structure, the leader of which was Franz Beckenbauer. But in reality, they have been used in order to buy the votes of the four representatives of Asia in the Executive Committee of FIFA. It was reported and how funds are managed to get on the side: according to the prosecution, the suspects had set them on the holding of a gala evening, which in fact cost significantly less. Therefore, according to the Prosecutor’s office, the DFB had suffered considerable material damage. And the stolen funds are partially passed through the Swiss structure. Even later in the case of a probable name of the beneficiary’s Mohammed bin Hammam of Qatar. At that time he was a member of the Executive Committee of FIFA.It is noteworthy that the opening of a criminal case and the prosecution of the above persons was reported three and a half years ago. The investigation was completed in August last year. But the trial began only in March. It was assumed that the process will be short-lived. But due to restrictions, cashosennih the Swiss authorities in the fight against the spread of coronavirus, in particular the prohibition of older people to visit public places, the process had to be suspended. The result was the Statute of limitations in the case — and the court was forced to close it without a resolution.The incident caused a negative reaction from FIFA, which stated that “deeply disappointed”. “FIFA, for its part, has fully cooperated with the investigation, answering numerous requests of the Prosecutor of Switzerland and incurring the related expenses — as funds and time. The fact that it ended in nothing, is disturbing. Not only for football, but for justice in Switzerland,” said FIFA, adding that “this is not the end”. “I hope that the truth will reveal those who are guilty of violations will be punished. If not in Switzerland, then maybe somewhere else”— said in a FIFA statement.
The closure of the case by German football officials has caused a wave of criticism of the attorney General of Switzerland Michael Lauber, to which had previously been claimed for the way he conducts business about corruption in football. In particular, due to premature closure of the trial about the abuse in the Union of European football associations (UEFA) for the implementation of the rights to broadcast the Champions League matches. In 2016 as a result of the scandal with the “Panama records” (leak of confidential documents to the Panamanian law, the company Mossack Fonseca) revealed that in the early 2000s, the UEFA sold the rights to show matches in Ecuador Cross Trading company for $140 thousand That immediately resells them to the Ecuadorian Teleamazonas TV for $440 thousand On the contract with the Cross Trading was signed Gianni Infantino, in February 2016 elected President of FIFA, and at the time of the events described served as Director of the legal Department of UEFA.Had reason to believe that this story took place a deliberate underestimation of the value of television rights and receiving “kickbacks” after their resale at full price. Swiss prosecutors opened a case, but it yielded no result. And all anything, if not it turned out that Michael Lauber at least three times informally met with Gianni Infantino. Later, the Prosecutor Lauber argued that simply did not consider it necessary to formalize the meeting with the defendant in the case, pending in his Department, but had to understand that in this way casts doubt on his impartiality.Arnold Boar
