FIFA President Gianni Infantino will continue to paint as he cooperates with a criminal investigation into his meetings with the Swiss prosecutor, a corruption investigation in the governing body of world football.
A special federal prosecutor, Stefan Keller, examines the legality of Infantino’s meetings with Michael Lauber, whose official name is Attorney General. Prosecutors have asked the Swiss government to lift Lauber’s immunity from the investigation.
Keller cited a “criminal conduct” similar to meetings between Lauber, Infantino and a Swiss regional prosecutor in the corruption investigation.
Zurich-based FIFA rated the meetings legal on Sunday and said in a statement that “no remote thief has happened.”
FIFA and Infantino “categorically deny any involvement or suggestion that the FIFA president has attempted to exert some form of undue influence over the Swiss federal prosecutor,” according to the statement.
“Meetings or contacts between the parties and prosecutors are not unusual during an investigation. The goal has been to provide full FIFA’s assistance in research.”
Lauber said he would resign after a Swissman said he had “knowingly hidden” and made false statements about a meeting with Infantino.
Switzerland’s executive branch, the Federal Council, last week learned of imaginable violations, adding abuse of the civil service, violation of official secrecy and assistance and incitement to criminals.
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