Panama Papers: Uefa offices raided as new Fifa boss Gianni Infantino named in Mossack Fonseca leak
Swiss police have raided the offices of Uefa in connection with the sale of Champions League contracts, which were exposed in the leak of the Mossak Fonseca documents. New Fifa president Gianni Infantino was named in the Panama Papers over his part in deals, which took place when he was director of legal services at Uefa.
Swiss authorities were responding to claims in the leaked documents that Infantino was involved in negotiations with Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, a father-son team of businessmen who have also been indicted in the bribery allegations scandal that has rocked Fifa.
The Panama Papers, which showed how high-profile names – including world leaders – were able to hide billions in offshore accounts, said that the contracts in question, from 2003 to 2006, relate to Uefa selling TV rights to a company called Cross Trading, which is a subsidiary of another company, Full Play, owned by Hugo Jankis. Cross Trading then sold the rights on to broadcaster Teleamazonas for triple the amount they paid for, estimated to be around $311,170 (£220,000). The 2006 contract was signed off by Infantino when he was a Uefa director, but he denies any wrongdoing.
Uefa have confirmed they will be co-operating with police during their investigation. A spokesperson said: "Uefa can confirm that we received a visit form the office of the Swiss Federal Police acting under a warrant and requesting sight of the contracts between Uefa and Cross Trading/Teleamazonas. Naturally, Uefa is providing the Federal Police with all relevant documents in our possession and will co-operate fully."
After it was revealed Infantino was named in the Panama Papers, Uefa said: "There is no suggestion whatsoever of any Uefa official or marketing partner taking any form of bribe or kickback, whether in relation to this tiny deal, or any other commercial transaction.
"The TV contract in question was signed by Gianni Infantino since he was one of several Uefa directors empowered to sign contracts at the time. As you will have observed, the contract was also co-signed by another Uefa director. It's standard practice."
Mossack Fonseca director, Ramon Fonseca, has denied any wrongdoing. He said the firm had suffered a hack on its database and described the leak as "an international campaign against privacy", according to Reuters.
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