Former FIFA Secretary General found guilty of corruption

BREAKING

Greek businessman Dinos Deris was also found guilty of the offence.

The pair's convictions for corruption comes after they were both found guilty of bribery three years ago, "for conspiring to award media rights in Italy and Greece for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups" per Jacobs' report.

During the 2022 proceedings, Valcke was given an 11-month suspended prison sentence, and was also found to have accepted a €1.25m bribe.

A statement from the Supreme Court confirmed the convictions: "Between the end of 2013 and 2015, the then FIFA Secretary General received financial benefits related to real estate from an executive of a media group.

"FIFA was preparing to finalize a contract worth nearly half a billion dollars to award this company the media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, and additional events for the same period, in the Middle East and North Africa region.

"Furthermore, in exchange for three bribes, made by another individual [Deris], totalling €1.25 million, the former FIFA Secretary General was to exercise his discretionary power regarding the bids of two companies for the exclusive representation and marketing of FIFA's media rights for the 2018, 2022, 2026, and 2030 World Cups, as well as additional events in Italy, and the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, as well as additional events in Greece.

"In order to conceal the corrupt nature of these three payments, the former FIFA Secretary General had recorded them as long-term loans in the 2013 and 2014 financial statements of a company he owned."

A separate case against Valcke also reportedly involved PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who was acquitted.

Al-Khelaifi had been accused of alleged wrongdoing in relation to the awarding of the 2026 and 2030 World Cup rights for the Middle East and North Africa region, and he has been acquitted for the third occasion.

Jacobs' report also included a statement on behalf of Al-Khelaifi's legal team. It reads: "It is a complete vindication. This brings to an end over eight years of proceedings and unfounded allegations that have caused serious and unwarranted damage to our client’s reputation.”