The Swiss Supreme Court issued a ruling Friday completely acquitting the chairman of beIN Media Group, Nasser al-Khelaifi, of all charges.
The acquittal of al-Khelaifi comes in relation to the rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.
“Today’s verdict is a total vindication. After a relentless six-year campaign by the prosecution – which ignored both the basic facts and the law at every turn – our client has, once again for a second time, been fully and completely cleared. The years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated – twice,” said Marc Bonnant, Swiss counsel representing al-Khelaifi.
In a related statement, beIN Media Group said: "As a reminder, this is the appeal by the prosecution of the original trial in September 2020. All the parties have just been notified. Full acquittal for Mr. al-Khelaifi for the second time."
It added, "Former FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke and Greek marketing agency executive Dinos Deris have both been convicted – 11 months' suspended prison and a fine for Valcke (worse finding for Valcke compared to 2020), 10 months' suspended prison for Deris (full reversal for Deris who was acquitted in the original trial)."
The acquittal of al-Khelaifi comes in relation to the rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.
“Today’s verdict is a total vindication. After a relentless six-year campaign by the prosecution – which ignored both the basic facts and the law at every turn – our client has, once again for a second time, been fully and completely cleared. The years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated – twice,” said Marc Bonnant, Swiss counsel representing al-Khelaifi.
In a related statement, beIN Media Group said: "As a reminder, this is the appeal by the prosecution of the original trial in September 2020. All the parties have just been notified. Full acquittal for Mr. al-Khelaifi for the second time."
It added, "Former FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke and Greek marketing agency executive Dinos Deris have both been convicted – 11 months' suspended prison and a fine for Valcke (worse finding for Valcke compared to 2020), 10 months' suspended prison for Deris (full reversal for Deris who was acquitted in the original trial)."