On Tuesday, the Swiss public prosecutor demanded the imprisonment of Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain, and "beIN" media group, for 28 months.
They also called for the imprisonment of Jerome Valcke, the former FIFA Secretary-General for three years, for granting the allocation of 2026 and 2030 World Cup TV rights to Al-Khelaifi.
Therefore, both Al-Khelaifi and Valcke appeared before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona since last Monday.
This is is the first time such sentences demanded in a European court in trials related to multiple disgraces in the football world.
Valcke accused of utilizing a luxurious villa in Sardinia:
The public prosecutor's office accused Valcke of obtaining a villa in Sardinia from the Qatari, in exchange for his support in granting beIN the broadcast rights for 2026 and 2030 World Cups in the Middle East and North Africa regions.
The prosecutors also accused Al-Khelaifi of ''inciting Valcke to commit such criminal deed."
The Swiss agency "Keystone-ATS" stated that the Federal Attorney General Joel Bahoud summarized Valcke's accusations of seeking money to ensure a "Lavish" lifestyle.
The prosecutor added that Al-Khelaifi procured the villa for five million euros ($5.85 million), through a company that was transferred nearly quickly to the brother of one of his near fellow workers, right before it was made available to Valcke.
A private arrangement between Valcke and Al-Khelaifi:
The two men denied a "corrupt agreement" and said the deal was a "private" arrangement, unrelated to the contract concluded by beIN with FIFA in April 2014.
The contenders also argued the deal, which FIFA tried to avoid since the 480 million dollar beIN paid for the two World Cups was 60% more than for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups when it faced no competition.
The prosecution said Valcke had committed to "do what was in his power" to ensure beIN would win the contract. Furthermore, They stated that Al-Khelaifi persuaded him to illegally spoil FIFA's interests.
Pahud also accused Al Khelaifi of being non-cooperative with the investigation and denying buying the villa despite evidence of the purchase.
The defense argued that the trial was "stalled" by the revelation of informal meetings between former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber and current FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Lauber quit his post in July, with that both men are under investigation for suspected collusion.
The Swiss prosecutors dropped the corruption charge because of an out-of-court agreement in January between Al Khelaifi and FIFA, which then withdrew its complaint against him.
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