Swiss prosecutors have finally dropped a dragging criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Proceedings were opened against Infantino in July 2020 over an alleged secret meeting with Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber.
Swiss prosecutors confirmed on Thursday their investigations “invalidated” suspicions against Infantino.
Infantino said the allegations were made to “attack his reputation”.
“This is a full and clear victory for me, for the new Fifa and for justice,” Infantino added in a Fifa statement.
“It is now clear that the accusations against me were mere attempts by poor, envious and corrupt people to attack my reputation. If these people have some dignity left, they should at least have the decency and apologise for their actions and the damage caused.
“Indeed and with no surprise, the investigation fully and clearly confirms that I have always acted in a lawful and correct way, always defending exclusively the interests of Fifa and football.”
Proceedings against Infantino were opened on suspicions of secrecy violations, abuse of office and aiding and abetting related to meetings he held with Lauber.
Prosecutors said their investigations had found no evidence that Infantino had “instrumentalised” the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland “into unusual, inexplicable, erroneous or even criminal acts or omissions”.
Fifa said: “Now it is official: Fifa President Gianni Infantino has always acted absolutely correctly and lawfully in his relations with the Swiss public prosecutors who were investigating the ‘old Fifa’.
“The new Fifa is today a clean, well run and robust organisation which operates in accordance with the highest ethical and governance standards.”
