GENEVA: Swiss authorities announced on Tuesday the end of legal proceedings against former FIFA president Sepp Blatter over the alleged mismanagement of its Zurich museum.
The Zurich public prosecutor’s department “has closed criminal proceedings against two former FIFA officials in connection to the FIFA museum,” it said in a statement.
“The investigation did not confirm the suspicion of breach of obligations by way of unfair management,” it added.
FIFA filed a criminal complaint in December 2020 against the former head of world football’s governing body for “criminal mismanagement” over the construction of the museum, a project spearheaded by Blatter.
It claimed the museum claimed generated a bill of 500 million Swiss francs ($564 million) that instead “could and should have been channeled into the development of global football.”
Under Blatter, FIFA said it spent $140 million on refurbishing and renovating an office building and signed an “unfavorable” long-term rental agreement above market rates that will cost the organization $360 million by its date of expiration in 2045.
However, according to the Zurich public prosecutor, “it was not possible to establish wrongful behavior.”
The museum was opened in 2016 by Gianni Infantino following his following election as Blatter’s successor.
FIFA museum case against Blatter dropped
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FIFA museum case against Blatter dropped
- "The investigation did not confirm the suspicion of breach of obligations by way of unfair management," Zurich prosecutors said
- FIFA filed a criminal complaint in December 2020 against the former head of world football's governing body for "criminal mismanagement"
Tottenham Hotspur sack manager Frank with relegation dogfight looming
- Pressure on Thomas Frank had been mounting and Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle United left his team in 16th place
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager Thomas Frank after nine months in charge, the Premier League club said on Wednesday, after a woeful run of results left the north London club hovering five points above the relegation zone.
Pressure on Frank had been mounting and Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle United left his team in 16th place with 29 points from 26 matches and looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone.
“Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together,” Spurs said in a statement.
“However, results and performances have led the Board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”
Frank, who joined Brentford in 2018 and established them as a top-flight club after gaining promotion, has struggled to replicate those methods at last season’s Europa League winners Tottenham.
The writing looked to be on the wall for the 52-year-old after Tuesday’s defeat by Newcastle United — their 11th of the league campaign.
Supporters left no doubt about their feelings with jeers ringing out around the club’s stadium and chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” directed at Frank.
It was Tottenham’s seventh league defeat at home in the Premier League this season and they have won only two of their 13 league games in front of their own fans.
Tottenham supporters were also singing the name of former coach Mauricio Pochettino, who got them to the 2019 Champions League final, on Tuesday. The Argentine is currently manager of the US men’s national team.
