Infantino welcomes investigations after UEFA raid

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he welcomes any investigation into UEFA following raids conducted at the Nyon headquarters of European football’s governing body.

Widely released reports claimed that documents within the ‘Panama Papers’ – which have been leaked from law firm Mossack Fonseca to the international press – indicated that, during his time as UEFA’s director of legal services, Infantino signed off on a deal to sell South American broadcasting rights for the Champions League, UEFA Cup and Super Cup to Cross Trading in 2006.

The papers allegedly show Cross Trading to have sold the rights on at a significant mark-up to broadcaster Teleamazonas.

Neither Infantino nor UEFA are accused of any wrongdoing over the reported rights agreement but both moved to deny any suggestions of improper conduct through separate statements on Tuesday.

UEFA confirmed that they co-operated with a raid from Swiss Federal Police on Wednesday, which was conducted as part of the investigation into the allegations of impropriety, and stated they had provided documents to outline their operations.

Infantino, who was elected FIFA president in February, insists that these documents prove that UEFA’s conduct was above board.

“If my determination to restore football’s reputation was already very strong, it is now even stronger,” he said in a statement. “I welcome any investigation conducted into this matter. 

“For the sake of transparency and clarity, it is essential that all elements of this dossier are disclosed, as UEFA has done. 

“Based on these documents, it is clear that all contractual matters were conducted properly by UEFA.

“Should I be required to contribute to bringing further clarification on the matter, I will of course gladly do so.

“It is in my interest and in the interest of football that everything should come to light.”