Fifa: Sepp Blatter faces criminal investigation

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Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter, the head of the world football body Fifa.

The attorney general's office said he was being investigated "on suspicion of criminal mismanagement as well as - alternatively - on suspicion of misappropriation".

Mr Blatter was being questioned, and his office was searched, it added.

Fifa said it was co-operating with the Swiss attorney general.

The Swiss attorney general's office said the investigation surrounds a TV rights deal Mr Blatter signed with former Caribbean football chief Jack Warner in 2005.

Mr Blatter is also suspected of making a "disloyal payment" in 2011 to UEFA president Michel Platini, the statement said.

In May, seven Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich on corruption charges by US authorities.

Mr Blatter won a fifth consecutive Fifa presidential election on 29 May but, following claims of corruption, announced his decision to step down on 2 June.

He is due to leave the role at a Fifa extraordinary congress on 26 February.