The Federal Criminal Court of Bellinzona confirmed the acquittal of Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Jérôme Valcke, who risked 28 and 35 months in prison in a case of “unfair management”.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi can breathe. The president of Paris Saint-Germain saw the Federal Criminal Court (TPF) of Bellinzona confirm the decision taken at first instance in the case linked to FIFAGate which concerned him. The Qatari leader is therefore acquitted again.
Nasser faced 28 months in prison
It was as president of the beIN Media group that Al-Khelaifi was summoned before the Swiss courts. The president of PSG is accused of “ aggravated unfair management” in the file for the allocation of TV rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, with regard to the North Africa and Middle East zones. While his chain was alone in the running, “NAK” had negotiated a contract for 480 million dollars (455 million euros, at the current price). But he is accused of having provided “undue advantages” to Jérôme Valcke, who was then Secretary General of Fifa, for a value between 1.4 and 2.3 million euros.
In the lot, there was in particular the supposed provision of a villa in Sardinia, belonging to Al-Khelaifi, for the former n°2 of Fifa. The Swiss federal prosecution had requested 28 months in prison against Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and 35 months in prison against Jérôme Valcke.
Fifa was not harmed
As in the first instance, the TPF considered that it was impossible to establish proof of unfair management against Fifa, since the international federation did not suffer any damage during this case. The contract signed by beIN Media was indeed 60% higher than that signed for the 2018 and 2022 Worlds.
“Today’s verdict is totally justified. After a relentless six-year campaign by the prosecution – which each time ignored fundamental facts and the law – our client has, once again, been fully and completely cleared”reacted Maître Marc Bonnant, one of Al Khelaifi’s three lawyers, in a statement sent to AFP.
An agreement with FIFA for a withdrawal of complaint
In that case, Al-Khelaifi had won a first battle in 2020 by getting FIFA to withdraw its complaint for « corruption » against him, thanks to a financial agreement made by the Qatari leader with the body headed by Gianni Infantino. All that remained was the accusations of “disloyal management”for which the president of PSG has just been acquitted.