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CORRUPTION

Swiss pursue Fifa’s Valcke as salaries finally revealed

Switzerland has opened a criminal investigation targeting Fifa's ex-secretary general Jerome Valcke, who was Sepp Blatter's right-hand man before he was fired from the organization over corruption, Swiss prosecutors said on Thursday.

Swiss pursue Fifa's Valcke as salaries finally revealed
Jerome Valcke and Sepp Blatter. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

“As part of the ongoing series of cases relating to Fifa, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) is conducting criminal proceedings against the former Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke on suspicion of various acts of criminal mismanagement,” the Swiss attorney general's office said in a statement sent to AFP.
   
The OAG “began investigations” including “searches and interviews” in connection with the Valcke case on March 17th, the statement said.
   
The criminal probe was opened in response to two specific criminal complaints made against the Frenchman during an investigation into his Fifa tenure carried out by world football's ethics committee.
   
Fifa's probe resulted in Valcke's 12-year ban from football last month for misconduct ranging from helping a World Cup ticket scam to fixing a television deal and destroying evidence.
   
The Swiss attorney general opened a criminal case targeting Blatter in September into alleged criminal mismanagement during his Fifa presidency and a potential “disloyal” payment Blatter authorised to Michel Platini in 2011.
   
Blatter was formally replaced as Fifa's boss by Gianni Infantino at congress last month.

The news comes as Fifa finaly revealed the fallen world football leader's salary for the first time.

Blatter, who had always resisted publishing his earnings during his 17 years in charge, earned 3.6 million Swiss francs ($3.7 million) in 2015, Fifa said on Thursday.
   
Meanwhile Valcke earned 2.1 million Swiss francs ($2.2 million).

Also on Thursday Fifa announced a $122 million loss in 2015 which it blamed partly on legal fees and other extra costs caused by the corruption scandal.
   
Fifa, which had a surplus of $141 million in 2014, said it was its first loss since 2002.
   
Fifa's revenue has increased in its past four-year financial cycle, but it blamed the loss on “expenses and higher competition costs, but also due to unforeseen costs such as legal fees and costs for extraordinary meetings.”

Blatter has appealed against his six year-ban from football activities to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the tribunal announced on Thursday.

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CORRUPTION

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president

Police raided the offices of FC Barcelona on Monday, carrying out several arrests just six days ahead of the club's presidential elections, a Catalan regional police spokesman told AFP.

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president
Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu is among the arrested. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain's Cadena Ser radio said one of those arrested was former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, along with CEO Oscar Grau and the club's head of legal services.

But the police refused to confirm names, saying only “arrests are taking place” and adding that the operation was being run by officers from the financial crimes unit.

“We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticise current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu.

Cadena Ser said Barca paid €1 million in six separate invoices to the company I3 Ventures, with whom the club have since cut ties.

Bartomeu resigned in October, after mounting pressure following months of controversy and a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch.

His successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

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