French authorities have seized documents from the country’s football federation in connection with the Swiss criminal investigation targeting former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
French Football Federation raided in Swiss probe against Blatter
The search was conducted Tuesday with Swiss officials present while French investigators searched the French Football Federation headquarters.
Documents in connection with Blatter’s infamous 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million) payment to UEFA’s fallen president Michel Platini of France, were seized in the search.
“Pursuant to that request and in close coordination with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, the French Financial Prosecution Office proceeded yesterday to a search of the offices of the French Football Federation,” the office of Switzerland’s attorney general said in a statement.
Blatter, who served as head of world football’s governing body from 1998 until 2015, and Frenchman Platini have denied any wrongdoing.
The pair have been suspended from all football-related activities for six years after a FIFA ethics committee investigation found them guilty of breaches surrounding the payment to Platini in 2011.
They have both said they will appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.