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A new investigation by prosecutors takes aim at Infantino's undisclosed meetings with former attorney general due to possible criminal conduct
A federal prosecutor in Switzerland said on Thursday that he had opened a criminal investigation into Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, after concluding that there were “indications of criminal conduct” in meetings between Infantino and an official overseeing an investigation into soccer corruption.
Why is Infantino being Investigated?
Infantino is being investigated following the resignation of Switzerland’s attorney general, Michael Lauber, who stepped down after a federal court upheld allegations that he had lied about meeting with Infantino.
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Lauber had been overseeing an investigation of the 2015 corruption scandal that led to criminal indictments against some of the top leaders at FIFA. The scandal led to the removal of most of FIFA’s senior leadership and paved the way for Infantino’s victory in a special presidential election a year later.
Infantino subject of new investigations
After reviewing two complaints against Infantino, Lauber, and Rinaldo Arnold, federal prosecutor Stefan Keller announced a new investigation. Arnold is a regional prosecutor and a childhood friend of Infantino who helped arrange meetings between the FIFA president and the attorney general.
In a statement, Keller said the allegations in two new complaints against Infantino, Lauber and Arnold center on the abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy, assisting offenders and incitement to break the law.
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As details of their meetings emerged more than a year ago, the announcement is the latest legal complication for Infantino and Lauber.
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