Prosecutors end proceedings against FIFA president Infantino

Criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his dealings with former Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber have been closed, Swiss prosecutors announced on Thursday, a move Infantino hailed as vindication of “the new FIFA “.

Infantino was elected in 2016 to clean up FIFA, soccer’s governing body, after it was embroiled in corruption scandals.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)

However, Swiss authorities launched proceedings against Infantino himself in 2020 on suspicion of violation of secrecy, abuse of power and complicity related to the meetings he had with Lauber.

In ending the proceedings, prosecutors said their investigations had “disproved” those suspicions.

It is a full and clear victory for me, for the new FIFA and for justice,” Infantino said in a statement.

“Indeed and unsurprisingly, the investigation fully and clearly confirms that I have always acted lawfully and correctly, always exclusively defending the interests of FIFA and football.”

Swiss authorities were investigating contacts between Infantino and Lauber, who resigned as Swiss attorney general after a court found he concealed a meeting with the FIFA boss and lied to supervisors while his office was investigating corruption within the football body.

Prosecutors said their investigation found no evidence that Infantino had “instrumentalized” the Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s Office “in unusual, inexplicable, erroneous or even criminal acts or omissions.”

FIFA said it had taken note of the decision to close the proceedings “with extreme satisfaction”.