This archive report was first published on 31 July 2020.
On July 31, 2020, Swiss prosecutors launched legal proceedings against Fifa president Gianni Infantino, sparking a new wave of controversy in the world of football.
The investigation centers around an alleged secret meeting between Infantino and Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber, which has been shrouded in secrecy.
Lauber's office had previously been embroiled in a corruption scandal, with the attorney general offering to resign after a court found him guilty of covering up the meeting and lying to supervisors.
Infantino and Lauber have both denied any wrongdoing, with Infantino stating that he aimed to assist the authorities in investigating past wrongdoings at Fifa.
However, special prosecutor Stefan Keller found indications of criminal conduct related to their meetings, including abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy, and incitement to these acts.
As a result, Keller has opened proceedings against both Infantino and a regional public prosecutor, seeking parliamentary approval to have Lauber's immunity from prosecution waived.
Fifa, based in Zurich, Switzerland, has stated that it will cooperate fully with the investigation.
