The Attorney General's Office in Switzerland has decided to drop the investigation against FIFA President Gianni Infantino "over the lease of a private jet to fly from Suriname to Switzerland in 2017" ©Getty Images

The Attorney General's office in Switzerland has decided to drop the investigation against FIFA President Gianni Infantino "over the lease of a private jet to fly from Suriname to Switzerland in 2017."

However, the football administrator is still under investigation in a criminal case where he is accused of "incitement to abuse of authority, violation of official secrecy and obstruction of criminal action."

FIFA "welcomed" the latest decision to not prosecute Infantino in the private plane case.

"FIFA welcomes the decision of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), which has closed the investigation against FIFA President Gianni Infantino related to a private jet being chartered to fly from Suriname to Switzerland in 2017," the statement read.

"It has been confirmed that the travel arrangements, made by the President’s Office and FIFA's travel department, were in line with FIFA’s compliance rules and regulations - a decision that is in line with the ruling of FIFA Ethics Committee in August 2020 on this case.

"In addition, the OAG has acknowledged that the manner of communication in relation to these travel arrangements at the time were completely justified.

"Following the OAG’s judgement, the Swiss state shall bear all costs related to the investigation, while the FIFA President has also decided to waive any claim for damages, thus foregoing any potential compensation."

Gianni Infantino is due to stand unopposed for re-election as FIFA President at its Congress on March 16 in Rwanda's capital Kigali ©Getty Images
Gianni Infantino is due to stand unopposed for re-election as FIFA President at its Congress on March 16 in Rwanda's capital Kigali ©Getty Images

FIFA's Ethics Committee closed its investigation into the case in August 2020, due to "the evident lack of a prima facie case regarding any alleged breach of the FIFA code of ethics."

However, there is still an outstanding investigation against the FIFA President into his undocumented meetings with former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber, who was responsible for investigations in connection with FIFA between 2015 and 2019.

Lauber resigned in 2020 due to the scandal and is also under investigation.

In January this year, Infantino was interviewed for the second time by magistrates Ulrich Weder and Hans Maurer in connection with the case.

Both Infantino and Lauber have denied any wrongdoings in connection with the meeting.

Infantino, who replaced Sepp Blatter as President of FIFA in 2016, is an International Olympic Committee member.

The 52-year-old is due to stand unopposed for re-election as FIFA President at its Congress on March 16 in Rwanda's capital Kigali.