The Swiss police searched the premises of the sports marketer Infront in Switzerland. The background is investigations by Austrian prosecutors into suspected breaches of trust and corruption in biathlon.
First Austria, then Norway and now Switzerland: The Austrian public prosecutor’s investigations into breach of trust and corruption in biathlon are becoming increasingly widespread. It is about the suspicion that those responsible at Infront may have bribed the former president of the World Biathlon Federation (IBU). As the “Zuger Zeitung” first reported (external link, possibly paid content), police officers searched the offices of sports marketer Infront Sports & Media AG in Zug, Switzerland, on Monday.
The Vienna prosecutors have expanded their investigation to the headquarters of the world’s leading sports marketer Infront. In response to a request from BR, “Augsburger Allgemeine”, “Spiegel”, the Austrian newspaper “Der Standard” and the Norwegian television station NRK, the Vienna public prosecutor’s office wrote that “further house searches abroad took place yesterday”. The authority does not want to provide any further information for reasons of privacy. It is currently unknown whether other rooms in Switzerland or other countries were searched.
Second raid on Infront
The Swiss Infront Sports & Media AG confirms the search. As part of the administrative assistance, Austrian authorities would investigate “whether there was any misconduct in the business relationship between Infront Austria GmbH and the former IBU president.”
This is the second raid on Infront. In April last year, investigators searched Infront Austria’s business premises in Salzburg. Even back then, the question was whether employees of the sports marketer had bribed the former president of the World Biathlon Federation Anders Besseberg.
Trial of Anders Besseberg in Norway
Anders Besseberg is considered “Mister Biathlon” who, during his long-standing presidency of the world association since the mid-1990s, succeeded in bringing the sport from the forests to television screens. He has been on trial in Norway since the beginning of January. Prosecutors there accuse him of corruption. Besseberg accepted expensive watch gifts from Russian officials and paid for hunting trips and the services of prostitutes. In return, he is said to have covered up cases of Russian state doping, according to the Norwegian prosecutor’s office.
In the process that is causing a great stir in Norway, the sports marketer Infront also plays a role. Besseberg is said to have accepted benefits from Infront. He was regularly invited to exclusive hunts in Austria or the Czech Republic. In addition, Infront provided Besseberg with a BMW X5 privately for years at his residence in Norway. Infront bore the costs. Besseberg denies all allegations in court. It is the presumption of innocence.
Last week, Stefan K., managing director of Infront Austria, and Volker S., founder of a predecessor company to Infront Austria and long-time hunting friend of Anders Besseberg, were invited as witnesses in Norway. Stefan K. refused to testify; Volker S. whenever the allegations became concrete.
Infront rejects allegations
When asked, Infront explains that the company is cooperating with law enforcement authorities. At the same time, Infront denies “any unlawful influence” on contracts for the exploitation of marketing and sports rights with the World Biathlon Federation. The agreements with the IBU have “always been in line with the market” and were “broadly supported” within the association through committee resolutions.
The Swiss Infront Sports & Media AG is considered the world’s leading sports marketer. The company has branches in 17 countries. Their customers include, among others, the World Ski Federation FIS. The contracts with the World Biathlon Association run until 2030. Numerous sporting events are also marketed by Infront in Germany, including the games of the national ice hockey team and the Four Hills Tournament for ski jumpers.
Munich prosecutors are also interested in Infront
The Munich public prosecutor’s office is also interested in Infront’s business practices. This is about contracts with the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB), which the long-time DEB President Franz Reindl signed. As the BR, the Augsburger Allgemeine and the Spiegel reported last November, there is suspicion of infidelity. The question is whether Reindl gave marketing rights for the national ice hockey team to Infront too cheaply.
Only Reindl is accused in the proceedings, Infront is not. The DEB and former President Franz Reindl did not want to comment on the events because of the ongoing public prosecutor’s investigations. In the past, Reindl had rejected any suspicion of criminal behavior and the presumption of innocence applies. Infront says it is cooperating with the public prosecutor’s office in the case.
That is the European perspective at BR24.
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Source: BR24 on radio February 7, 2024 – 7:05 a.m
