UEFA’s offices were raided by Swiss police on Wednesday after its former secretary general, and now FIFA president, Gianni Infantino became embroiled in the Panama Papers affair.
So soon after his appointment as the new FIFA boss, Infantino has said he is “dismayed” and “will not accept” that his integrity is being doubted after a leak of a television rights contract bearing his signature.
The 46-year-old Swiss-Italian, in his former role as UEFA director of legal services, co-signed a television rights contract in 2006 with two businessmen who have since been caught up in football’s corruption scandal, according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists which is analysing 11 million leaked files.
Infantino and UEFA deny wrongdoing, but Swiss authorities raided the Nyon offices of European football’s governing body on Wednesday, it confirmed.
UEFA, who are fully cooperating with police, said in a statement: “UEFA can confirm that today we received a visit from the office of the Swiss Federal Police acting under a warrant and requesting sight of the contracts between UEFA and Cross Trading/Teleamazonas.
“Naturally, UEFA is providing the Federal Police with all relevant documents in our possession and will cooperate fully.”
Prior to voting in Infantino as president on February 26, FIFA agreed to a reform package designed to address issues of governance, accountability, transparency and diversity.
But its troubled past continues to cast a shadow and provoke awkward questions.
Infantino has been urged to use his place in the Panama Papers affair to show his commitment to implementing change.
Conservative Damian Collins MP, a founder of the group New FIFA Now which campaigned for reform under Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter, said the new president must show his commitment to reviving FIFA is unwavering following his election on February 26 as the crisis refuses to subside.
Collins told Press Association Sport: “The question many people ask is: so far what’s changed? FIFA agreed on reforms, but where is the implementation?
“There’s been a change of style, but has there been a change of substance and when is that going to come through?
“On issues like this Infantino needs to stand up and be counted, try to persuade people that he will drive through the reforms without fear or favour and radically change the culture and practices of world football.
“For FIFA’s sake he’s got to. If he’s unable to do that convincingly in the next few months, the crisis that has engulfed FIFA will not go away.
“If he is unable to lead the change that it needs – not just in terms of the statutes, but the culture of the organisation – then there will have to be a much more radical overhaul of FIFA.
“His election was a step in the journey to reform, but only a small step and a lot more needs to be done.”
Source: talksport
