PSG president risks two years jail term over bribery allegations

144

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Paris Saint-German FC president is currently facing trial over bribery allegations. If found guilty, the billionaire would be jailed for 28 months.

Al-Khelafi is being accused of offering former FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke, the use of his villa in Sardinia, Italy, as a favor ahead of the television rights process for the 2026 and 2030 competitions.

The Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona has been told that beIN Media Group where Al-Khelaifi is the chairman has been awarded the world cup TV right in the Middle East and Africa without being put up for tender.
READ ALSO  148 arrested in Paris after Police, PSG fans clash

Al-Khelaifi, however, claims that they paid full market value for the rights.

FIFA secretary-general, Jerome Valcke according to court proceedings requested Al-Khelaifi’s help in buying the villa in Sardinia while negotiation for the world cup TV right was ongoing between beIN and FIFA.

Allegedly, Al-Khelaifi bought the villa for around €5million and gave it to a close associate’s brother through which Valcke gained access. The FIFA secretary general managed to avoid paying around £1.66million.

Prosecutors request that if the PSG president is found guilty, he should be sentenced to 28 months jail term and Valcke, a three-year sentence.

Both men, however, have denied allegations slammed against them.