Such a procedure would have to be a triumph for a prosecutor: On the dock are accused of former top representatives of the German Football Association, as well as the former general secretary of the FIFA World Association, it is judged about the self-service mentality of the officials, ultimately the conditions in the World football made the process. With such a thing you can crown your life’s work as a chief prosecutor.
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But the trial before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, against former DFB bosses Wolfgang Niersbach and Theo Zwanziger, against former DFB general secretary Horst R. Schmidt and his Fifa colleague Urs Linsi, is in danger of becoming a disaster instead. A disaster for the cause and for the Swiss Federal Attorney Michael Lauber.
And if this happens, if the process that starts on Monday may not even be completed, then that is not least Lauber’s work.
Snackgate puts a strain on the process even before it starts
The federal prosecutor had declared the investigation surrounding the FIFA complex to be a top priority. Now failure is likely to be a top priority. The 54-year-old’s fate with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino is doomed. Lauber has three times arranged for informal meetings with his compatriot, what was discussed there, Lauber has so far only provided very narrow-lipped information. The meetings were never officially recorded, Lauber has now given two of these appointments. He initially denied that there was a third, after which he just couldn’t remember it exactly. Lauber then had to withdraw from FIFA affairs, and disciplinary proceedings against him had been initiated.
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It is precisely this third meeting that could now bring Bellinzona’s case to the toe. An expense report from that meeting on June 16, 2017 in Bern states the consumption of “five snacks for six francs”, detailed in the 48-page final report of the disciplinary proceedings. So far, only four participants in the conversation had been mentioned. Lauber, his press officer, Infantino and a friend, a prosecutor.
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However, a fifth person must have participated, the final report says. However, the name of this participant is blackened in the report – and not only the defendant Linsi’s lawyer suspects that it may be someone related to the proceedings against the Bellinzona accused. An investigating prosecutor, for example. In such a case the bias would be fulfilled and the whole process threatened to burst. Linsi and his lawyer want to clarify this, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported.
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There is already talk of the “Snackgate” in the Swiss press, the demands for resignation against Lauber are increasing. The federal prosecutor had only a few friends before, the FIFA procedure seems to be completely overwhelming him and his authority, Lauber has repeatedly emphasized the amount of data that should be evaluated in the FIFA complex. This also led to the fact that the proceedings against Zwanziger, Niersbach and Co were scheduled so late that the limitation period was almost reached. The Federal Criminal Court must pass a judgment by April, otherwise all charges expire.
The certificates pile up
The process has already moved to the edge of a farce without all these weak points. The medical certificates of the accused are now piling up. Franz Beckenbauer, the key figure in the whole affair, was removed from the procedure last year for official health reasons. Zwanziger also submitted a certificate and will not appear in Bellinzona.
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Niersbach and Schmidt have also raised concerns about their appearance for health reasons. An almost empty dock is at risk, and the coronavirus in the risky area of northern Italy in the Ticino neighborhood also plays a role in the suspect’s allegations when it comes to health arguments. Schmidt is now 78, while Niersbach at 69 is a youngster.
The process was supposed to clarify the background of the summer fairy tale affair about the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. It would be a winter wonder if it came to that.
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