Infront confirms TV rights inquiry of Italian branch chief

ROME (AP) — Sports marketing agency Infront says the president of its Italian branch and two associates are under investigation for "alleged manipulation" over the sale of lucrative Serie A TV rights.

Switzerland-based marketing agency Infront Sports and Media is led by Philippe Blatter, the nephew of suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Infront says prosecutors in Milan opened a probe against branch president Marco Bogarelli, Andrea Locatelli and Giuseppe Ciocchetti "related to an alleged contribution to undue financing practices in Italian football and an alleged manipulation of the administrative process" for the sale of the 2015-18 domestic rights.

However, Infront says the company itself "is not facing a formal probe" over the rights sale, which brought in 943 million euros (more than $1 billion).