Governing Bodies
INFANTINO UNDER FRESH PRESSURE AS SWISS ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFERS TO RESIGN OVER SECRET FIFA MEETINGS
Switzerland’s Attorney General Michael Lauber has offered his resignation following a Court decision that criticised his conduct following his handling over a investigation into alleged corruption at FIFA.
A Federal Administrative Court in Bern announced today that Lauber had committed several breaches of his official duties and lied to investigators while his office examined football’s world governing body.
Lauber has again denied that he lied but today’s development has put FIFA President Gianni Infantino under fresh scrutiny.
The Federal Administrative Court claimed that Lauber made “implausible” statements about an undisclosed meeting with Infantino in June 2017.
It added that Lauber “intentionally made a false statement” to the watchdog investigating his conduct and knowingly concealed the meeting.
“Overall, the Court finds that Attorney General Lauber committed several breaches of official duty,” the Court said.
The ruling came in response to Lauber’s appeal against being disciplined in March for misconduct over the FIFA affair.
That decision had led to an oversight panel deducting eight per cent of Lauber’s annual salary of CHF278,000 (£236,000/$302,000/€259,000) for “breach of duty”.
Lauber offered his resignation following today’s decision in a personal statement released by the Office of the Attorney General.
“I respect the judgment of the Federal Administrative Court,” he said.
“I still reject the lie in all form.
“However, if they [the Court] don’t believe me as a Federal prosecutor, it will harm the prosecutor’s office.
“I therefore offer the responsible Judicial Commission the resignation in the interest of the institutions.”
It is alleged that Lauber held undocumented meetings in 2016 and 2017 with Infantino, elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee earlier this year.
The meetings only came to light following the publication of the Football Leaks series of confidential documents in November 2018.
It remains unknown what was actually discussed at those meetings, though there has been much speculation that Infantino, elected as FIFA President in February 2016, was looking into whether there was a criminal investigation into himself and potentially interfere with other investigations into the Zurich-based governing body and its partners.
Both Lauber and Infantino claim they cannot remember what they discussed.
Lauber, the Attorney General since 2012, is already facing impeachment proceedings – the first time in Swiss history such action has been taken against someone serving in the role.
A special prosecutor is reviewing criminal complaints against him and Infantino.
Infantino has denied any wrongdoing.
If a criminal investigation is opened, however, Infantino is expected to face calls to step down as FIFA President, at least while they are investigated.
-insidethegames
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria is set to host the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marking the third time the country will stage the continent’s top football gathering.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, approved Nigeria’s proposal to host the event.
The approval followed a meeting between President Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former NFF President and Special Adviser to the CAF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, as well as CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
Sports Villages Square affirms that Nigeria previously hosted the CAF Congress at the National Theatre in Lagos in March 1980 and again in February 2009, when the late CAF President Issa Hayatou secured another four-year term in office.
In addition to this year’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for October, Nigeria also secured the hosting rights of the CAF Awards ceremony. The annual awards gala, which celebrates Africa’s top football performers, has been staged in Morocco over the past three years.
Nigeria had earlier hosted the CAF Awards when telecom firm, Globacom, was the headline sponsor. This year’s event will be the seventh to be held in Nigeria after those of 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
The CAF Ordinary General Assembly traditionally attracts key football stakeholders from across the continent, including presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions and senior football administrators.
The CAF Awards ceremony is regarded as one of African football’s flagship events, honouring outstanding players, coaches, clubs and officials in a glamorous setting that showcases the continent’s football excellence.
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FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer.
Infantino confirmed he would run for the 2027–2031 term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup.
The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Infantino said he was “honoured and humbled” to have the chance to run for a fourth term.
The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.
Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December.
Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year-old if he decided to seek another term.
-Reuters
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