Two decades of embedded corruption left to run rampant in the world’s football authority FIFA is set to be exposed, as the US mounts a chilling case.
“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks,” US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Wednesday.
“They corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and to enrich themselves.”
Fourteen people have been charged with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies that span 24 years beginning in 1991.
The group includes the body’s vice president Jeffrey Webb, former vice president Jack Warner, president of Venezuelan Football Federation Rafael Esquivel and former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association Costas Takkas.
Swiss authorities have since raided FIFA’s headquarters to launch criminal proceedings in connection to the votes cast for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Ten people will be questioned for those charges including Mario Lefkaritis, a former UEFA vice president.
Charges:
– US indictment charging 14 defendants with 47 counts of racketeering, fraud and money laundering conspiracies over 24 years
– Separate criminal proceedings in Switzerland in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar
Fallout:
– Four people and two corporate defendants have already pleaded guilty to various charges
– Sponsors abandon ship: Coca Cola, Hyundai, adidas and Visa have expressed their disappointment and have called for reforms within FIFA. Visa says it will “reassess” its sponsorship unless FIFA rebuilds an ethical corporate culture
– UEFA considering calling for a boycott of FIFA competitions by all member nations. UEFA asks Blatter to step down
– South Africa – World Cup hosts in 2010 – deny any wrongdoing in their bid to host the global showpiece
– Australia revokes support for Blatter, FFA to investigate missing donations to former FIFA vice president