Bangladesh, July 6 -- Fresh revelations from leaked encrypted messages have triggered a political and legal controversy in Serbia, with prosecutors opening a new line of inquiry into allegations that former football officials discussed using criminal figures to intimidate football legend Nemanja Vidić after he criticized the countrys football leadership.

The case has also drawn renewed attention after Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić publicly downplayed the significance of the allegations, even as a criminal complaint seeking the arrest of former Football Association of Serbia president Slaviša Kokeza was transferred to Serbias organized crime prosecutors.

The controversy stems from an investigation published on Ju...