PSG: 'No impact' from president's probe
PARIS, Oct 14, 2017 (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain are unaffected by the World Cup corruption investigation launched against chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi, a source close to the club has told AFP.
Swiss prosecutors revealed this week they are probing Khelaifi, who heads the Qatariowned beIN Media group, and disgraced former FIFA executive Jerome Valcke over the sale of media rights for World Cups from 2018-2030.
A villa on Sardinia that Italian police say Khelaifi used as "a means of corruption" has been seized and searched.
An aide close to Khelaifi said he denies all the accusations and has done nothing wrong.
The probe has cast a shadow over an exciting start to the season at the Parc des Princes following the signing of Brazilian superstar Neymar in a world record 222 million euro ($262.5 million) deal and the arrival of French teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe.
A source close to the club said it was unaffected by the swirling allegations.
"An investigation is under way, Nasser al-Khelaifi is impli- cated in his role as president of beIN Media. It has no link with PSG and so there is no panic among the sponsors, or within the club," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
PSG, who lead Ligue 1, put their unbeaten record on the line away to Dijon on Saturday.
Their closest rivals for the title, reigning champions Monaco, lost ground following a 3-2 defeat to Lyon on Friday.
Porto Cervo, Italy: This handout video grab released on October 13, 2017 by the Italian "Guardia di Finanza" shows a part of the "Villa Bianca" in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Italian police said they had searched and seized the luxury "Villa Bianca", owned by an international real estate agency, today, as part of investigations against Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi and former top FIFA official Jerome Valcke. Khelaifi, the powerful Qatari sports executive who heads the BeIN media group, is said to have used the villa in Porto Cervo as a "means of corruption" over the sale of media rights for upcoming World Cups between 2018-30. (AFP)