The Swiss Federal Criminal Court on Friday acquitted PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelai for a second time on charges of bribery and criminal mismanagement to award World Cup broadcast rights.
Al-Khelaifi, who is also the chairman of beIN Media Group, had been under suspicion for the past few years and was also cleared of charges by the Federal Penal Tribunal during a preliminary trial in 2020, but the Confederation The U.S. Public Ministry then launched an appeal.
“Today’s decision has been proved to be completely correct after six years of relentless campaign of prosecutors, ignoring basic facts and the law at every turn,” said the representative of the Swiss Council of PSG president.
“Our client is once again, for the second time, completely and utterly acquitted of these baseless allegations, the fictitious allegations and the incessant smears twice proved completely and completely proven.”
On the other hand, the former FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke was convicted and suspended for 11 months in addition to prison and fines.
Valcke was also cleared of charges along with al-Khelaifi in October 2020 after a preliminary trial by a federal penal tribunal.
The allegation centers around granting FIFA broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 editions of the World Cup. Valcke was accused of obtaining rent-free use of a vacation home purchased in Sardinia in 2013 by a Qatari company set up for the purpose of purchase with the help of al-Khelaifi.
It was during this time that FIFA wanted to renew World Cup rights in the Middle East and North Africa region.