The president of the Federation of International Football Association (Fifa), Gianni Infantino will on Friday be interviewed by the governing body’s ethics committee following allegations he breached its code of ethics.
Infantino was expected to meet ethics investigator Robert Torres – possibly as early as Friday – as part of a preliminary probe into his conduct just four and a half months after succeeding Sepp Blatter who had to step down due to allegations of fraud.
If there is sufficient evidence, a full investigation will be opened that could see Infantino provisionally suspended for up to 90 days. News of the interview arrived days after the emergence of a leaked internal Fifa memo outlining a series of claims relating to the Swiss’s expenses, recruitment practises and the alleged sacking of whistleblowers.
Fifa confirmed on Thursday night that Infantino, who has denied any wrongdoing, would willingly co-operate with any inquiry.
“The Fifa president has stated publicly he fully respects the independence and work of the ethics committee and that he would provide, if required, whatever information necessary to facilitate any potential review by the committee,” it said in a statement.
“The president has made clear that he had acted appropriately and in accordance with Fifa’s code of ethics.” Legal counsel hired by Fifa to examine the claims against Infantino was on Thursday said to have concluded he had no case to answer.
