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May 24, 2019

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PSG boss targeted in graft probe

Source: AP | 00:18 UTC+8 May 24, 2019 | Print Edition

Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser al-Khelaifi has been placed under investigation for corruption as part of an inquiry into the bidding process for the 2017 and 2019 track world championships, a judicial official said yesterday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the preliminary charge of 鈥渁ctive corruption鈥 was filed against the beIN media group chairman in mid-May in a case focusing on the payment of US$3.5 million to an IAAF official.

The official said al-Khelaifi is suspected of corruption 鈥渋n regards with Qatar鈥檚 track and field worlds.鈥 Al-Khelaifi is from Qatar.

Al-Khelaifi鈥檚 lawyer was not available for comment and beIN media group declined to comment because the case 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 relate in any way to the company.鈥

The chief executive officer of beIN, Yousef al-Obaidly, was also handed preliminary charges of corruption, while former IAAF President Lamine Diack is suspected of 鈥減assive corruption鈥 in the same case.

According to al-Obaidly鈥檚 lawyer, investigative magistrate Renaud Van Ruymbeke based his suspicion on documents showing that a former IAAF official received two payments totaling about US$3.5 million from Qatari investors before the vote for the 2017 track world championships. Qatar eventually lost to London but was later awarded the 2019 worlds. The championships will be held in Doha from September 27 to October 6.

The two payments from Oryx Qatar Sports Investments, an investment fund linked to the Qatari government, were made to Pamodzi Sports Marketing in October and November 2011, days before the vote.

Al-Obaidly鈥檚 representatives say the payments made by Oryx to the IAAF鈥檚 appointed agent were transparent and part of the normal bidding process. Set up to handle the sponsorship and rights for Qatar鈥檚 bid, Oryx accepted to pay US$32.5 million for the event鈥檚 commercial rights, including the US$3.5 million paid to Pamodzi as a non-refundable deposit. The full amount would have been paid only if Qatar鈥檚 bid had been successful.

According to the online news site Mediapart, Oryx is owned by al-Khelaifi and his brother Khalid. Mediapart said al-Khelaifi was questioned by the judge in March and denied any knowledge of the payments at the time.

Pamodzi was founded by one of Diack鈥檚 sons, Papa Massata Diack. A former marketing consultant at the IAAF, he has been banned for allegations of extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Russian marathon runner to avoid a doping ban before the 2012 Olympics. France has issued a wanted notice via Interpol.

In another case, Brazilian and French authorities are trying to find out whether Lamine Diack and his son played a role in arranging alleged bribes to help Rio de Janeiro earn the hosting rights for the 2016 Olympics. Diack, who ran the IAAF from 1999 to 2015, has also been accused of covering up failed Russian doping tests in exchange for money.

Al-Khelaifi is a member of the UEFA executive committee, representing European clubs, and is due to take part in the body鈥檚 meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Al-Khelaifi was selected as a club delegate, and confirmed by UEFA member federations in February, despite being the subject of a criminal proceeding for bribery in Switzerland since 2017. The Qatari television executive is suspected of bribing FIFA鈥檚 then-secretary general with use of a luxury villa in Italy to help secure 2026 and 2030 World Cup broadcasting rights in the Middle East for Doha-based beIN Sports.

PSG is also under investigation by UEFA for possibly breaking financial rules.

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