Villa seized after criminal proceeding opened against PSG's president

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, beIN Media Group's chief executive officer and Paris Saint-Germain's president, is accused of bribery, and reportedly offered use of a villa to Jerome Valcke, FIFA's former general secretary.

The Guardia di Finanza said Friday that a villa with an estimated value of €7 million was seized as part of investigations that were launched by Swiss police in March. The luxurious villa - located in Porto Cervo, Italy - was allegedly used to acquire television rights for World Cups between 2018 and 2030. According to the Associated Press, Al-Khelaifi made the villa available to Valcke, who is serving a 10-year ban from all football-related activities.

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland announced Thursday that a criminal proceeding was opened on March 20 against Valcke, Al-Khelaifi, and a businessman in connection with the awarding of World Cup media rights, on suspicion of bribery of private individuals, fraud, criminal mismanagement, and forgery of a document.

It's suspected that Valcke accepted "undue advantages" from a businessman in the sports rights sector in connection with the awarding of media rights for certain countries at the World Cup of 2018, 2022, 2026, and 2030, and from Al-Khelaifi in connection with the awarding of media rights for certain countries at the World Cups of 2026 and 2030.

Al-Khelaifi was reportedly not present at beIN Media Group's office when it was searched Thursday by French authorities and Swiss investigators, while the company "refutes all accusations made by the OAG."

In March 2016, two months after he was dismissed as FIFA's general secretary, the OAG announced that a proceeding was opened against Valcke, in particular on suspicion of various acts of criminal mismanagement.