Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Blatter to cooperate with Swiss probe

The lawyer for FIFA president Sepp Blatter says his client will cooperate with Swiss authorities investigating whether he made corrupt payments.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will cooperate with Swiss authorities who have started a criminal investigation against him as part of corruption probes against football's ruling body, his lawyer says.

The lawyer, Richard Cullen, was quoted by The New York Times on Friday as saying that the evidence would show that a contract in question with the Caribbean football union in 2005 was negotiated properly.

"Certainly no mismanagement occurred," Cullen told the Times.

"Mr Blatter is cooperating and we're confident that when the Swiss authorities have a chance to review the documents and the evidence they will see that the contract was properly prepared and negotiated by the appropriate staff members of FIFA who were routinely responsible for such contracts."

The investigation into Blatter also includes an alleged "disloyal payment" of 2 million Swiss francs to the president of European football's governing body, Michel Platini.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The contract is reportedly on the sale of TV rights to the Caribbean and involves former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, whose extradition US authorities are seeking in connection with their own probe.

The FBI, which has a number of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption by football officials, had no comment over the developments in Switzerland.

Kelly Langmesser, an FBI spokesman in New York, told DPA it wouldn't be appropriate for the FBI to comment on an investigation launched by another law enforcement authority.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world