The Swiss Supreme Court issued a ruling Friday completely acquitting the chairman of beIN Media Group, Nasser al-Khelaifi, of all charges.
The acquittal of al-Khelaifi comes in relation to the rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.
“Today’s verdict is a total vindication. After a relentless six-year campaign by the prosecution – which ignored both the basic facts and the law at every turn – our client has, once again for a second time, been fully and completely cleared. The years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated – twice,” said Marc Bonnant, Swiss counsel representing al-Khelaifi.
In a related statement, beIN Media Group said: "As a reminder, this is the appeal by the prosecution of the original trial in September 2020. All the parties have just been notified. Full acquittal for Mr. al-Khelaifi for the second time."
It added, "Former FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke and Greek marketing agency executive Dinos Deris have both been convicted – 11 months' suspended prison and a fine for Valcke (worse finding for Valcke compared to 2020), 10 months' suspended prison for Deris (full reversal for Deris who was acquitted in the original trial)."