Corruption probe puts Qatar's influence under the spotlight

DOHA - Thursday's bombshell announcement that the Swiss are investigating Qatar's Nasser Al-Khelaifi and a disgraced former senior FIFA executive on corruption charges places the emirate and world soccer back under scrutiny.

Investigators are examining allegations of bribery surrounding Al-Khelaifi, head of Doha-based beIN Media Group, and ex-FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke over the sale of World Cup media rights for soccer's flagship tournament.

"It is suspected that Jerome Valcke accepted undue advantages from a businessman in the sports rights sector in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser al-Khelaifi in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030," read a statement from the Swiss attorney general's office.