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A criminal complaint has been filed against the FIFA President in the canton of Bern. It was sparked by an interview in the newspaper with criminal law expert Markus Mohler. Another complaint is being prepared against Infantino and US Attorney Michael Lauber.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the UEFA Congress in Amsterdam last March.
In an interview that appeared in the newspapers of the CH-Media publishing house on Tuesday, Basel criminal law expert Markus Mohler strongly expressed the opinion that the prosecution in the canton of Bern had to take legal action against Gianni Infantino, president of the FIFA World Football Association. . Mohler argued that in informal meetings with Michael Lauber, Infantino instigated the federal prosecutor to abuse, secrecy, and privilege.
Mohler, who previously worked as a prosecutor and police commander, relies, inter alia, on the supervisory authority’s disciplinary order (AB-BA). This clearly shows that it was Infantino who initiated the meetings with the Federal Prosecutor through a friend from his youth. Without Infantino’s initiative, these meetings would not have happened, Mohler said in the interview. The mere fact that the talks have not been recorded is, according to the criminal law expert, a fact of abuse of power.
Because two of the three meetings took place at the Hotel Schweizerhof in Bern, Mohler holds the local prosecutor accountable. He also had to take action on his own as it was an official crime. In the interview, however, he also says: “According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, anyone can file a complaint.”
This has happened quickly in the meantime. Over the course of Tuesday, the Bern prosecution filed a complaint against Infantino. So far, the cantonal police authorities have taken the position that it is AB-BA’s responsibility to take criminal action against Lauber if necessary. As a spokesperson said on Wednesday, the criminal complaint is now being examined by the regional prosecutor’s office in Bern-Mittelland.
This is not the first time that the FIFA President of the Canton of Valais has faced a criminal complaint in relation to the FIFA matter. Theo Zwanziger had already denounced him twice, both times accusing him of unfaithful business management: firstly, because Infantino did not request the transfer to Qatari sports official Mohammed bin Hammam in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup in Germany; second, because Infantino paid the boyfriend who had organized the meetings with Lauber about 20,000 Swiss francs in gifts, from the FIFA box office.
The federal prosecutor’s office had to deal with criminal complaints against Infantino; in both cases, he issued a so-called no appeal order. Now a cantonal prosecutor is facing the FIFA issue for the first time.
Meanwhile, you can hear in the area around Zwanziger that more announcements are being prepared. There, Lauber and Infantino are accused of inciting in favor, because they are said to have ensured that the federal prosecutor’s office against Mohammed bin Hammam does not open an investigation after one of their meetings. “There are two elbows to measure,” says Zwanziger on request. While the Federal Prosecutor’s Office is investigating German citizens intensively and costly, possible misconduct is swept under the rug at your door, in the case of Infantino and Qatar.
Criminal proceedings against the 1920s and four other former soccer officials from Germany and Switzerland are banned in late April. The handling of the completion of the procedures, in particular the cost credits, is delayed after the Federal Prosecutor’s Office has requested a deadline. In his application to the Federal Criminal Court, he mentions “several absences from the office, a high current workload, and increased administrative effort due to the home office (Covid-19).”
Meanwhile, the parliamentary judicial commission today deals with the Lauber Cause. She advises whether impeachment proceedings should be initiated against the federal prosecutor. Appropriate proposals have been received from Commissioners Sibel Arslan (gp., Basel-Stadt) and Lorenz Hess (bdp., Bern). Commission President Andrea Caroni (Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, fdp.), On the other hand, it is known that he wants to wait for the decision of the Federal Administrative Court first. There, Lauber filed a complaint against the salary cut with which AB-BA sanctioned him. The court decision is expected later this summer.
Either way: Before an impeachment procedure can be launched against Lauber, the parliamentary judicial commission must listen to him in advance. At best, such a hearing could take place at the next meeting, which will take place next week. AB-BA President Hanspeter Uster, who is being convened today, also has another appearance.
