FIFA; French federation searched in Sepp Blatter case

French authorities have seized documents from the
French Football Federation (FFF) in connection with
Switzerland's criminal investigation into ex-Fifa
president Sepp Blatter.
According to Switzerland's office of the attorney
general, the documents are connected to "the
suspected payment of 2m Swiss francs [£700,000]".
It said the search in Paris was carried out at
Switzerland's request.
The criminal investigation into Blatter, 79, began in
September.
The office of the Swiss attorney general said the
FFF consented to the search of its Paris base, which
was carried out on Tuesday.
Swiss prosecutors have accused Blatter of criminal
mismanagement or misappropriation over a TV
rights deal and of a "disloyal payment" to suspended
Uefa president Michel Platini.
Blatter, who served as head of world football's
governing body from 1998 until 2015, and
Frenchman Platini have denied any wrongdoing.
The pair have been suspended from all football-
related activities for six years after a Fifa ethics
committee investigation found them guilty of
breaches surrounding the payment to Platini in
2011.
They have both said they will appeal against the
decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Blatter and Platini say the payment honoured a
verbal or gentleman's agreement made in 1998 for
work carried out by the Frenchman when he was a
technical advisor for Blatter.
Last month, Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino
was elected as Blatter's successor and has vowed to
"restore the image" of Fifa.