It could take at least five years, before any cases are brought to court from investigations against suspended FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, according to Swiss officials.
The embattled 79-year-old is facing charges of alleged corruption in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.
In March 2015, the Zurich headquarters of FIFA was raided and seven of the game’s leading administrators were arrested.
Investigations have now been formally opened by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), but it might be a long process.
“These are very large and complex investigations and it will take at least five years for them to come to court, if it even comes to that,” Andre Marty, spokesman for the OAG, told ESPN FC.
“We are still a long way off from making any decision on formally charging anybody and cannot give a precise time on when this will be. We are only at the stage where we are analysing data and pursuing new lines of inquiry, particularly in relation to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
“We have a large team of people working on both investigations and new avenues are being explored all the time which has led to the opening of sub-investigations. Bringing any cases to court is not going to be quick.”
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