BELLINZONA, Switzerland — Disgraced chairman of Qatar-based media group BeIN Sports, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and FIFA’s former secretary general Jerome Valcke went on trial in Switzerland on Monday over the award of television rights for the World Cup and Confederations Cup.

Valcke is accused of accepting more than $1 million (SR3.7m) in cash in return for favorable awarding of media rights.

Al Khelaifi, who is also president of French champions Paris St Germain (PSG) and sits on the executive committee of European soccer body UEFA, and Valcke however, came to court separately.

A third defendant, Greek marketing agency executive Dinos Deris, also known as Konstantinos Nteris, was not expected to attend the opening of the trial.

Al Khelaifi has been charged with inciting Valcke to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement.

It is alleged that Al Khelaifi, who is a former Davis Cup tennis player for Qatar, incited Valcke not to tell FIFA about favors he received.

Valcke, who is already banned by FIFA’s ethics committee for 10 years for previous ethics violations, has been charged with accepting bribes, aggravated criminal mismanagement, and falsification of documents.

The duo face criminal charges over claims that Valcke exploited his position to influence the awarding of media rights for Italy and Greece for various World Cup and Confederation Cup tournaments from 2018 to 2030.

A broader investigation into alleged bribery connected to the two men over broadcasting rights for the World Cups in 2026 and 2030 and other FIFA events in the Middle East was abandoned.

During a formal investigation since 2017, Swiss prosecutors questioned Al Khelaifi on suspicion of bribing Valcke with use of a luxury villa in Sardinia in 2014 and 2015.

Prosecutors say Valcke took three kickbacks totaling 1.25 million euros ($1.48 million) to steer World Cup rights toward favored broadcasters in Italy and Greece. He is also charged with falsifying documents by booking the payments to his private company as loans. — Agencies