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Swiss attorney general cites 53 possible money-laundering incidents in FIFA World Cup probe

Associated Press
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FILE - In this May 27, 2015 file photo two persons are reflected in the FIFA logo at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Swiss Attorney-General Michael Lauber said in a press conference Wednesday, June 17, 2015 that banks have noted 53 possible money-laundering cases in a FIFA probe. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file) (The Associated Press)

Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber, center, speaks to journalists after a press conference in Bern, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Lauber said in the press conference that banks have noted 53 possible money-laundering cases in a FIFA probe. (Marcel Bieri/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber speaks during a press conference in Bern, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Lauber said that banks have noted 53 possible money-laundering cases in a FIFA probe. (Marcel Bieri/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

Switzerland's attorney-general says banks have noted 53 possible money-laundering incidents in his investigation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests.

Michael Lauber says the "suspicious bank relations" were reported within the framework of anti-money laundering regulations.

He says he "does not exclude" interviewing FIFA President Sepp Blatter and secretary-general Jerome Valcke in the future.

Addressing the media for the first time since the Swiss investigation into FIFA was announced three weeks ago, Lauber says the case is "huge and complex."

Lauber declined to discuss a timetable for the case which targets "criminal mismanagement and money-laundering" in the bidding contests which sent the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

FIFA began the case by filing a criminal complaint against "persons unknown" last November.