FFF raided as part of Blatter investigation
March 9, 2016
As part of an ongoing investigation involving Sepp Blatter, authorities have searched the offices of the French Football Federation (FFF), the office of the Swiss Attorney General said Wednesday.
"Pursuant to that request... and in close coordination with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), the French Financial Prosecution Office proceeded yesterday to a search of the offices of the French Football Federation (FFF) in Paris," the statement from the Swiss Attorney General said. It added the search was "in connection with the criminal proceedings against Mr. Joseph Blatter."
In the raid, documents "were seized" pertaining to the controversial payment of 2 million Swiss francs (1.83 million euros, $2 million) involving the former FIFA president and former UEFA president Michel Platini. Swiss authorities launched criminal proceedings against Blatter in September, and asked for assistance from French authorities in mid-January.
Both Blatter and Platini are serving suspensions from FIFA regarding this suspect payment in 2011. However, the FIFA Appeals Committee reduced their bans from eight years to six despite rejecting their respective appeals for reinstatement. Gianni Infantino replaced Blatter as FIFA's president on February 26.
dv/kd (AFP, dpa)