The watchdog overseeing Swiss federal prosecutors has ordered an independent disciplinary investigation into Attorney-General Michael Lauber over private meetings with the head of the global football body FIFA.
“The investigation should clarify under disciplinary law possible violations of official duties by the attorney-general within the complex of the FIFA proceedings,’’ the agency said on Friday.
Lauber, who was to address the issue at a news conference Friday, has been investigating several cases of suspected corruption involving the Zurich-based FIFA.
This dates back to 2014 and the presidency of Sepp Blatter.
The criminal probe treats FIFA as a victim rather than a suspect.
Lauber acknowledged two meetings with current FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying they were intended to help coordinate his investigation.
But media reports of a third meeting prompted a preliminary investigation by the Supervisory Authority for the Office of the Attorney General.
It said Lauber had denied having any other such meetings while in office.
Lauber later said he did not recall the third meeting but that it must have occurred.
The supervisor — which has chided Lauber for not documenting the meetings with Infantino, exposing him to potential allegations of bias — has decided to seek outside help.
It decided to ask an outside expert to look into the matter.
However, the supervisor did not immediately name the expert.
The Swiss parliament is due to decide next month whether to re-appoint Lauber to his position.
