GENEVA: Evidence has been seized in a search at the French soccer federation headquarters for a criminal case against former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, Swiss federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
The office of Switzerland’s attorney general said the governing body for French soccer consented to the search carried out Tuesday, at offices near the Eiffel Tower in central Paris, with the cooperation of the French Financial Prosecution Office.
The raid is the first reported action outside Switzerland in a criminal proceeding opened against Blatter last September for suspected financial mismanagement and misappropriation of FIFA money. Blatter turns 80 on Thursday.
It focuses on a $2 million payment Blatter approved from FIFA funds for Michel Platini in 2011. The previously secret transaction wrecked the former France great’s bid to become FIFA president when it was revealed by Swiss prosecutors six months ago.
“Documents were seized in connection with the suspected payment,” the Swiss federal prosecution office said in a statement Wednesday. A formal request for help from French authorities had been made on Jan. 14.
Though no criminal case is yet open against Platini, the suspended president of European soccer body UEFA, Switzerland’s attorney general Michael Lauber has previously said he is “between a witness and an accused person.”
“Michel Platini’s status in the proceedings has remained unchanged,” Lauber’s office said Wednesday.
Platini’s lawyers said in a statement Wednesday that the Swiss intervention was a positive step.
“We welcome this new stage because the sooner Swiss justice completes the investigation, the sooner Michel Platini will get out of the news headlines in which he does not belong,” the statement said.
Platini was based in Paris rather than at FIFA’s home in Zurich when he worked as Blatter’s presidential adviser from 1999-2002. Then, the French federation’s offices were on Avenue d’Iena, near the Arc de Triomphe.
The federation, now working from a building fronted by glass panels on Boulevard de Grenelle, issued no statement early Wednesday about the raid.
French media reported that the documents seized related to a contract between the federation and Platini for rented office space in 1999-2002.
Lauber previously seized documents in December from European soccer body UEFA, based in Nyon, Switzerland, where Platini has been president since 2007. That elected job gave him FIFA vice president status.
Platini and Blatter were suspended from office in October by FIFA’s ethics committee and are now serving six-year bans. They have constantly denied wrongdoing and are appealing against their sanctions at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Before details of the $2 million deal emerged in September, Platini was the leading candidate to succeed his one-time mentor Blatter as president in FIFA’s emergency election on Feb. 26.
Lauber alleged the “disloyal payment” as part of a wider investigation of FIFA business that has spun off the governing body’s initial complaint about suspected money laundering in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests.
The case against Blatter also involves alleged misappropriation of FIFA funds during his more than 17 years as FIFA president, which formally ended two weeks ago.
He allegedly arranged an undervalued deal for 2010-2014 World Cup broadcast rights for the Caribbean with former FIFA vice president Jack Warner.
Blatter and Platini claim they had a verbal deal for additional salary, after Platini asked Blatter for annual pay of 1 million Swiss francs when approached in 1998 to work for the newly-elected president.
Blatter said there was a contract for 300,000 Swiss francs, the same as FIFA’s then secretary general in line with its salary structure, plus a “gentleman’s agreement” to get the rest later.
Swiss law obliged FIFA only to pay the deferred money within five years. It was not until 2010 that Platini asked for the balance, and was paid in February 2011.
That timing has raised suspicion as the payment came during a FIFA presidential election campaign. UEFA later urged its members to support Blatter — who promised them it would be his final term — against Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar.
Blatter won that 2011 election unopposed after Bin Hammam was implicated in bribing Caribbean voters. From then on, Platini was the likely successor to lead FIFA, though Blatter won another election last May before being forced out by a growing corruption crisis.
Instead, Platini’s long-time right-hand man at UEFA, General Secretary Gianni Infantino, won the presidential election last month.
French soccer HQ raided in Swiss case against Blatter
French soccer HQ raided in Swiss case against Blatter
Bangladesh win toss, bowl against India in first Test
- Bangladesh are fresh from a historic 2-0 Test sweep in Pakistan but have never beaten India in 13 attempts
- India, led by Rohit Sharma, are looking to extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship rankings
CHENNAI, India: Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to field against India in an overcast Chennai on Thursday in the first of two Tests.
Bangladesh are fresh from a historic 2-0 Test sweep in Pakistan but they have never beaten India in 13 attempts.
The visitors have included three seamers including new pace sensation Nahid Rana, who bowled at speeds of over 146 kph (90 mph)in Pakistan.
“There is moisture on the wicket and we will like to use the conditions,” Najmul said at the toss.
“It looks hard and will be good for the seamers in the first session.”
India, led by Rohit Sharma, are looking to extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship rankings as they begin a fresh Test season of 10 matches.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant returns to the Test team for the first time since he nearly died in a car crash in 2022.
Virat Kohli is also back for his first Test since facing South Africa at Cape Town in January, having missed India’s 4-1 home series win against England for the birth of his second child.
Rohit said he would also have fielded first had he won the toss, admitting the “conditions will be challenging.”
India have included three fast bowlers and two spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
It is a first Test for new India coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over from Rahul Dravid, who ended his tenure by winning the T20 World Cup in June.
Teams
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed.
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV Umpire: Chris Brown (NZL)
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
Britannia advance in America’s Cup while American Magic stay alive
- The Americans won both races to cut Luna Rossa’s lead to 4-3 in the first-to-five playoff series
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing cut their deficit against INEOS Britannia to 4-2 by winning their first race, but the British triumphed in the second race to qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup final that will begin on Sept. 26
BARCELONA: INEOS Britannia advanced to the final of the America’s Cup playoffs on Wednesday, while NYYC American Magic took advantage of a mid-race failure on the boat of Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli to keep alive their hopes of pulling off an unexpected comeback in the semifinals.
The Americans won both races to cut Luna Rossa’s lead to 4-3 in the first-to-five playoff series. American Magic had been on the verge of elimination after going down 4-0, and now they can advance with a pair of victories on Thursday.
The Americans won the final race of the day on Wednesday after a gear failure on Luna Rossa’s boat took it out of contention. The Italian boat had to start cruising immediately after a loud pop was heard.
“You’re always going to get a few curveballs that come your way, but champion teams can deal with that, and we’ve certainly got a champion team,” Luna Rossa skipper Jimmy Spithill said. “We have a fantastic team ashore and there’s no doubt in my mind that we will be back. I’ll make a bet and I’ll put the farm on it that we’ll be out there tomorrow.”
Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing — who also trailed 4-0 — earlier Wednesday cut their deficit against INEOS Britannia to 4-2 by winning their first race, but the British triumphed in the second race to qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup final that will begin on Sept. 26.
“It was a tough final couple of days in the lighter conditions, hats off to Alinghi Red Bull Racing, they really pushed us hard in those lighter conditions and it was a rough day today where the wind was up and down a lot, a nasty sea state,” Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie said. “A tough test for all of the teams, but I’m delighted for our team, for all the hard work and effort to get us this point.”
Alinghi skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis said they started sailing well “too late” in the playoffs.
“The boat performed well, but we missed some opportunities on the sailing side,” he said.
The winner will challenge defending champion Team Emirates New Zealand in the America’s Cup final next month.
Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise
- Marchand: I need to organize myself a little more. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little
- Marchand said that the Paris Olympics, which were widely praised for their smooth organization, had sparked a wave of optimism in the country
TOULOUSE: French Olympic swimming hero Leon Marchand said Wednesday his record-breaking exploits in the Paris pool have changed his life so much that he often needs to don a disguise to evade attention.
The 22-year-old won all four of his individual races at the Games — the 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke and 200m-400m medley double.
It thrust him into elite company as the first male swimmer to do so at a singles Games since American legend Michael Phelps in 2008.
However, fame has its occasional downside.
“I’m going to lose a little freedom and spontaneity because I can’t go out to restaurants like I used to anymore,” Marchand said as Toulouse feted its new Olympic star.
“I need to organize myself a little more. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little.
“But when people do stop me in the street, it’s to say ‘thank you’. That’s kind and I take it to my heart.”
He added: “I have got used to it quite quickly even if the first weeks were difficult, because it’s a fairly radical change in status.”
Marchand said that the Paris Olympics, which were widely praised for their smooth organization, had sparked a wave of optimism in the country.
“France has changed and I hope it will last,” said Marchand.
“Sport is something quite special. It conveys an emotion that you can’t have anywhere else and the French realized this. We must continue to celebrate athletes, try to put more resources into infrastructure, more sport in schools.”
Man City and Inter Milan draw 0-0 in goal-shy Champions League. PSG score late to beat Girona
- Just 13 were scored in six games one day after 28 were fired on Tuesday, including nine by Bayern Munich alone
- A rare Thursday slate of Champions League games will see Barcelona go to Monaco, Atalanta host Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen visit Feyenoord
GENEVA: Where did all the goals go?
The 0-0 draws between Manchester City and Inter Milan in their rematch of the 2023 final, after Bologna and Shakhtar Donetsk also could not find a goal, capped an untypically goal-shy evening for the Champions League on Wednesday.
Just 13 were scored in six games one day after 28 were fired on Tuesday, including nine by Bayern Munich alone.
How unusual was this? Two 0-0 draws after just 12 of 144 games to be played in the new league phase is already halfway to the total of four in 96 games one year ago in the group-stage format that is now abolished. The entire competition averaged three goals per game last season.
Paris Saint-Germain and Girona also were heading for a blank until a horrible 90th-minute error by the Spanish debutant’s goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga — spilling a cross by Nuno Mendes through his own legs — gifted a 1-0 win.
“We won’t get to where we want to overnight,” Girona coach Míchel said. “It requires hard work.”
Borussia Dortmund needed late goals from substitutes Jamie Gittens, twice, and Serhou Guirassy with a stoppage-time penalty to win 3-0 at Club Brugge.
The new format has welcomed new faces and long-absent friends in European soccer’s marquee competition.
Sparta Prague rose to the challenge of their first game for 19 years at this stage of the Champions League by beating Salzburg 3-0.
Bologna waited 60 years to return and deserved more for their attacking ambition against Champions League veteran Shakhtar. The Ukrainian champion had a penalty saved in the fourth minute by Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.
Slovan Bratislava was overmatched in their first game since 1992-93, the first season of the Champions League rebrand from the old European Cup, and with Georgia defender Guram Kashia making his competition debut at age 37.
They could not keep out Celtic, who won 5-1 in Glasgow. Ireland internationals Liam Scales and Adam Idah, Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda, and Arne Engels of Belgium scored for the champion of Scotland.
“The quality of the goals was sensational,” Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers said after just a fourth win in 33 Champions League games for the 1967 European Cup winner.
A rare Thursday slate of Champions League games will see Barcelona go to Monaco, Atalanta host Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen visit Feyenoord.
Six games on each of three straight nights are launching the new format. Now, 36 teams each play eight different opponents through January and are ranked in a single league table to decide which teams advance to the knockout phase.
Man City held in rare home shutout
There was nothing to separate the champions of England and Italy, 15 months after Man City beat Inter 1-0 in Istanbul to lift the European Cup trophy for the first time.
Ilkay Gundogan wasted two late chances for manager Pep Guardiola’s team, failing to convert two headed chances.
It was the first time City had failed to score at home in Europe’s elite tournament since being held 0-0 by Sporting Lisbon in March 2022, and just the second time at home in all competitions since then. The other was a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League in March.
But the result saw City extend their six-year unbeaten home run in European games to 32, dating to a 2-1 loss to Lyon.
“I’m pleased with our performance, I liked everything,” Guardiola said.
Dortmund keep clean sheet, again, somehow
Dortmund’s defense had a Champions League-best six clean sheets last season on its way to the final, where Real Madrid found two late goals to take the title.
Somehow, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel kept out Brugge despite 18 goal attempts including a close-range shot by Hugo Vetlesen that rattled the cross bar in the 12th minute. Vetlesen’s effort ended a manic series of four shots in a matter of seconds from a corner including a diving save by Kobel.
The Switzerland ‘keeper’s five saves meant Dortmund did not pay for its own wastefulness in front of goal until taking the lead in the 76th from a Gittens shot that deflected off two defenders before looping past Simon Mignolet into the Brugge net.
Salzburg’s heavy load
Few clubs will play more international games this season than Salzburg, under their new coach Pep Lijnders, the former long-time assistant to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Salzburg had to advance through two Champions League qualifying rounds in August — because their 10-year title run in Austria was ended by Sturm Graz — and will play at least three more games in June at the Club World Cup in the United States.
Salzburg qualified among 12 European teams going to the relaunched FIFA club event because of its consistent results in the past four Champions League seasons, but was upstaged in Prague.
“A few of our players were playing their first game for the club,” Lijnders said. “It’s a new team we need to build it.”
Sparta came through three qualifying rounds, and six games already, to reach this stage and made a sharp start Wednesday scoring within two minutes to set the tone for an easy win.
Tottenham mounts late comeback to beat Coventry 2-1 in the English League Cup
- Brennan Johnson completed Spurs’ comeback with the winner in the second minute of stoppage time
COVENTRY, England: Tottenham avoided a shock defeat in the third round of the English League Cup after scoring two late goals to beat second-division Coventry 2-1 on Wednesday.
Djed Spence evened the score in the 88th minute at Coventry Arena after Brandon Thomas-Asante had fired the home team ahead in the 63rd.
Brennan Johnson completed Spurs’ comeback with the winner in the second minute of stoppage time.
Coventry had come agonizingly close to upsetting Manchester United in the semifinal of the FA Cup last season — losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Wembley.
And it was another heartbreak against Premier League opposition after Tottenham’s late rescue act.
“Coventry were outstanding with the energy they brought, we had to dig deep today and we found what we needed to win the game,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said.
Elsewhere, Wolverhampton’s troubled start to the season continued with a 3-2 loss at Brighton that saw it eliminated from the competition.
Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra gave Brighton a 2-0 lead at Amex Stadium and Goncalo Guedes pulled one back for Wolves before halftime.
Ferdi Kadioglu made it 3-1 in the 85th and Tommy Doyle scored a consolation for Wolves in the 90th.
