Charges issued against former Fifa partner
Swiss prosecutors on Wednesday brought charges against individuals over the collapse of ISL/ISMM, world football governing body Fifa's former marketing agency.
Marc von Dach, prosecutor for the canton of Zug – where ISL/ISMM was based – said charges against those allegedly responsible for the group’s demise in 2001 included embezzlement and fraud.
Von Dach told the Associated Press news agency that the indictment solely concerned employees at the International Sport and Leisure (ISL) agency and its parent group ISMM.
ISL/ISMM had owned the television and marketing rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Its collapse, amid allegations of bribery to sports officials to secure lucrative contracts, left a major hole in Fifa’s finances.
Prosecutors have declined to say how many people and who has been charged, citing strict Swiss privacy laws. No former or current Fifa employees are involved, said von Dach.
Von Dach said in a statement that criminal mishandling amounted to more than SFr100 million ($81.9 million).
Fifa spokesman Andreas Herren told AP that the Zurich-based football body had full confidence in Zug’s justice system.
No trial date
The court has yet to set a trial date. Von Dach said the next step would be months of pretrial proceedings during which defence lawyers would have time to study the accusations.
Zug authorities began their investigation in 2001 following a complaint from Fifa against ISL/ISMM, which had specialised in television and sponsorship deals.
Fifa said in 2004 it was no longer interested in continuing a criminal complaint, and would rather pursue ISL’s management through the civil courts.
However, Zug investigating magistrate Thomas Hildbrand continued his probe, saying his investigation in five countries had found evidence of many alleged financial crimes.
The charges announced on Wednesday also include fraudulent bankruptcy, damaging creditors and falsifying documents. They are based on Hildbrand’s preliminary findings.
swissinfo with agencies
Zug state prosecutor Marc von Dach presented a court in Zug with a 228-page indictment on February 19 this year.
The charges, based on a Zug probe and announced on Wednesday, involve an estimated more than SFr100 million ($81.9 million). They also allege fraud and embezzlement.
ISL/ISMM, Fifa’s marketing partner for almost two decades, went bankrupt in 2001 with losses of more than $300 million.
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