Failure of 2006 World Cup fraud trial ‘worrying’, says Fifa

Trial had been suspended due to coronavirus restrictions in Switzerland

Fifa said it hoped the truth about the payment would eventually emerge. AFP

Football’s world governing body, Fifa, has warned that the failure to complete a fraud trial connected to the award of the 2006 World Cup was concerning for the sport.

Four senior officials were accused of misleading the German Football Association (DFB) over a payment of 10 million Swiss francs (Dh37.8 million).

But the five-year statute of limitations in the case expired on Monday before a Swiss court could rule in the case. Fifa said the expiry of the trial was also worrying for the Swiss justice system.

After several investigations triggered by the transfer of funds, Wolfgang Niersbach resigned as DFB president after allegations that the payment was to secure votes for Germany’s successful bid for the tournament.

German officials Mr Niersbach, Theo Zwanziger, Hors Schmidt and former Swiss Fifa official Urs Linsi all have denied wrongdoing.

Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber is facing calls to resign over the collapse of the case, which critics say he handled inappropriately.

“The fact that the case has now ended without a result of any kind is very worrying, not only for football but also for the administration of justice in Switzerland,” Fifa said in a statement released on Tuesday.

It said it hoped the truth about the payment would eventually emerge, "and that those having committed wrongful acts will be duly sanctioned, if not in Switzerland, then maybe somewhere else”.

Restrictions imposed as part of Switzerland’s coronavirus lockdown forced the court to suspend the trial last month. The Swiss government has instructed people older than 65 to avoid public contact.

Mr Lauber’s investigation has long been beset by problems.

The attorney general was barred from participating in investigations of corruption in football, and a Swiss court ruled closed-door, largely undocumented meetings he held with Fifa head Gianni Infantino had raised the appearance of bias.

Swiss broadcaster SRF on Tuesday reported that a member of parliament's court commission is drawing up a request to seek the removal of Mr Lauber, a formal process that would take weeks.

But Mr Lauber's office said it was not aware of any formal effort to oust him. "As has been the case, the attorney general stands ready to answer questions from the responsible committees," it said in a statement.

Fifa said that, as far as it was concerned, the case “is certainly not over”.

The body added that it “cannot and will not accept that a 10 million franc payment is made from Fifa accounts without a proper reason".