Panama Papers: Gianni Infantino statement in full following police raid on Uefa offices
The 46-year-old administrator was elected as Fifa president in February on a platform of reform
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Your support makes all the difference.Fifa president Gianni Infantino has released a statement after police in Switzerland raided Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon to collect details of a TV right contract leaked in the Panama Papers.
Infantino, formerly director of legal services at European football’s governing body, co-signed the TV contract in 2006 with businessmen who have since become embroiled in corruption scandals.
Broadcasting rights for the Champions League and other tournaments were sold to a company owned by Hugo Jinkis – one of 16 men indicted by the FBI over bribery allegations last year.
The 46-year-old administrator, elected as Fifa president in February on a platform of reform, welcomes the investigation in his statement, claiming that the investigation is in the ‘interests of football’.
Gianni Infantino’s statement in full
“If my determination to restore football’s reputation was already very strong, it is now even stronger.
I welcome any investigation conducted into this matter.
For the sake of transparency and clarity, it is essential that all elements of this dossier are disclosed, as Uefa have done.
Based on these documents, it is clear that all contractual matters were conducted properly by Uefa.
Should I be required to contribute to bringing further clarification on the matter, I will of course gladly do so.
It is in my interest and in the interest of football that everything should come to light.”
The revelation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which is analysing 11million leaked files dubbed the Panama Papers, prompted the raid on Uefa's Nyon HQ.
Infantino and Uefa deny wrongdoing and pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland said the swoop, which was one of two which took place on Wednesday, was part of criminal proceedings directed against persons unknown.
A statement from the Swiss OAG said: "On April 6, 2016, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), within the scope of ongoing criminal proceedings, conducted a search on a cooperative basis for the collection of evidence at the headquarters of the Uefa and at another enterprise.
"The search was motivated by the suspicion of criminal mismanagement (Art. 158 of the Swiss Criminal Code / SCC) and, respectively, that of misappropriation (Art. 138 of the SCC).
"The OAG's criminal proceedings are in connection with the acquisition of television rights and are at present directed against persons unknown, meaning that for the time being, no specific individual is being targeted by these proceedings."
Uefa 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."
Additional reporting by PA
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