Boss of Mexican media giant steps aside amid Fifa-linked US probe

Boss of Mexican media giant steps aside amid Fifa-linked US probe

The decision comes about two months after the company said it had learned of the investigation, which could have an impact on the company’s finances.

US justice department
Televista said it was continuing to co-operate with the department of justice investigation. (EPA Images pic)
MEXICO CITY:
The executive chairman of Televisa, the world’s largest Spanish-language network, has stepped aside pending the outcome of a US judicial probe linked to football governing body Fifa, the company said Thursday.

Televisa was in 2017 implicated in a corruption case in the US related to the alleged payment of bribes to Fifa officials to secure broadcasting rights for World Cup matches.

At the time, Emilio Azcarraga Jean was CEO of Televisa Group – which was founded by his grandfather – and the company rejected the accusations as having no legal basis.

On Thursday, it said in a statement to investors that its board had approved a proposal for Azcarraga “to take an administrative leave, effective immediately, pending resolution of the investigation by the justice department into certain Fifa-related activity”.

The decision comes about two months after Televisa said it had learned of a US investigation “of Fifa-related activity” which could have material impact on the company’s financial situation.

It said that it could not predict the outcome of the investigation. Televista added in the Thursday statement that it was “continuing to cooperate with the investigation”.

The next World Cup will be held in 2026 in the US, Mexico and Canada.

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