Sepp Blatter has 1 World Cup corruption case dropped

An investigation into former FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s World Cup broadcasting deals with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) will be dropped by Switzerland’s federal prosecutor, according to Reuters.

The 84-year-old was accused of selling TV rights for the 2010 and 2014 editions of the World Cup to the CFU for $600,000, a sum that was apparently well below market value at the time. However, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has revealed its intention to end the corruption probe.

In a statement, the OAG said it “considers the criminal investigation into the partial facts and allegations concerning the contractual relationship with the CFU to be complete and ready for conclusion.”

The OAG added it “intends to discontinue the proceedings” but offered no explanation for its decision.

Blatter, who is serving a six-year ban from football-related activities due to ethics violations, could be convicted in a separate case involving his $2.06-million payment to then-UEFA chief Michel Platini if the OAG determines it was unlawful.

Platini claimed the fee was for unpaid salary, backing up Blatter’s claims that it was merely a “gentleman’s agreement” between the pair following some advisory work conducted by Platini nine years earlier.