On July 30, 2020, Swiss special prosecutor Stefan Keller launched criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, investigating undisclosed meetings he held with former Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber in 2016 and 2017.
The probe, prompted by suspicions of abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy, assisting offenders, and incitement, was labeled “grotesque and absurd” by FIFA’s deputy general secretary, Alasdair Bell, during a news conference on August 3, 2020.
FIFA’s Defiant Response
Bell dismissed the investigation, stating, “There is no factual basis whatsoever for this criminal investigation,” and expressed confidence that no charges would be filed against Infantino.
He argued that the meetings, held in public venues like hotels and restaurants, were legitimate efforts to assist Lauber’s investigations into over 20 FIFA-related corruption cases from the era of former president Sepp Blatter.
“You go to the most senior law officer in the country to offer information for a criminal investigation and then you end up being a subject of a criminal investigation yourself,” Bell remarked, highlighting the perceived unfairness.
Meetings and Allegations
Infantino, elected in February 2016 to reform FIFA after its 2015 corruption scandal, met Lauber to discuss ongoing probes, with a third meeting in 2017 involving Lauber’s spokesperson André Marty and Infantino’s friend Rinaldo Arnold.
Both Infantino and Lauber denied wrongdoing, claiming they couldn’t recall details of the discussions. The Swiss oversight body noted “indications of criminal conduct,” prompting Keller’s investigation. Lauber, criticized for misleading an oversight office, announced his resignation effective August 31, 2020.
Reputational Damage
Bell emphasized the reputational harm to FIFA and Infantino, arguing that the mere existence of the probe was damaging despite lacking “any description of criminal conduct.” FIFA, headquartered in Zurich, maintained that Infantino’s actions were part of his fiduciary duties to address past wrongdoings. The organization’s combative stance followed Infantino’s earlier dismissal of complaints as “absurd” during a FIFA council meeting.
Outcome and Context
The investigation continued until October 2023, when Swiss prosecutors closed the case, finding no evidence to substantiate allegations of collusion. Infantino hailed the decision as a “full and clear victory for me, for the new FIFA, and for justice,” criticizing the probe as an attempt to tarnish his reputation. The initial probe’s timing, amid the Covid-19 pandemic’s economic strain on sports, added pressure to FIFA’s efforts to restore its image post-2015.
