PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi escapes 28-month prison sentence after being CLEARED in World Cup TV rights bribery trial at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been acquitted of a charge of incitement to criminal mismanagement in a Swiss court, his legal team has said.
Al Khelaifi, who also sits on the executive committee of European football’s governing body, had been charged in a case related to the awarding of World Cup media rights which also involved former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
However, his legal team said he had been cleared of the charge at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona on Friday.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been cleared of a charge of incitement in a Swiss court
A statement from Al Khelaifi read: ‘After a relentless four-year campaign against me that ignored the basic facts and the law at every turn – I have finally, fully and completely cleared my name.
‘Today’s verdict is a total vindication. It restores my faith in the rule of law and in due process, after four years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears of my reputation – all of which have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated.’
Al Khelaifi added: ‘I can now devote all my energy to my various roles, which are all focused on building a positive future for world sport – at a time when the industry needs strong leadership the most.’
An additional criminal complaint alleging bribery against Al Khelaifi was dropped before the case came to court after football’s world governing body FIFA withdrew the complaint.
An undisclosed settlement was understood to have been reached between Al Khelaifi and FIFA.
The court would not confirm the judgement in relation to Valcke when contacted, with a press statement due to come from the court later on Friday afternoon.
Valcke’s 10-year ban from all football-related activities, imposed by FIFA, was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2018.
