Re: FIFA Investigation and Elections Thread

[RedOranje]

Well now...

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/sports/soccer/fifa-officials-face-corruption-charges-in-us.html

FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S.

By MATT APUZZO, MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT, WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and SAM BORDENMAY 26, 2015

ZURICH — Swiss authorities began an extraordinary early-morning operation here Wednesday to arrest several top soccer officials and extradite them to the United States on federal corruption charges.

As leaders of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, gathered for their annual meeting, more than a dozen plain-clothed Swiss law enforcement officials arrived unannounced at the Baur au Lac hotel, an elegant five-star property with views of the Alps and Lake Zurich.

The officers went to the registration desk to get keys, then headed upstairs toward the hotel rooms.

The charges allege widespread corruption in FIFA over the past two decades, involving bids for World Cups as well as marketing and broadcast deals, according to three law enforcement officials with direct knowledge of the case. The charges include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering. Prosecutors planned to unseal an indictment soon against more than 10 officials, not all of whom are in Zurich, law enforcement officials said.

Continued in link above.

[iftikhar]

Can any government organization investigate or sue FIFA or its affiliated organizations??? I thought FIFA (or its regional henchmen association) simply bans the country that tries to investigate or prosecute any national FA.

[sportsczy]

Issue is that some of the bribery occurred on US soil and/or involved US officials... so they broke US law and everything involved in the crime becomes accessory to the crime, which is also criminal. Since the US has extradition treaties with almost all the European countries and many more around the world, they can force criminals to be extradited to the US to face charges.

Very dumb on the part of FIFA.... and great for the sport. No way they will get away with this. The FBI does not spend these kind of resources unless they get their pound of flesh. And this is also the first major case for the new US Attorney that took office a month ago.

[windkick]

Yea if they are in the arresting phase, then they most certainly have more than enough dirt on these mofos already

[Mr_Puyol]

True Detective season 3

[Art Morte]

Just woke up and my day's already been made.

[junkyard]

Well now...

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/sports/soccer/fifa-officials-face-corruption-charges-in-us.html

FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S.

By MATT APUZZO, MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT, WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and SAM BORDENMAY 26, 2015

ZURICH — Swiss authorities began an extraordinary early-morning operation here Wednesday to arrest several top soccer officials and extradite them to the United States on federal corruption charges.

As leaders of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, gathered for their annual meeting, more than a dozen plain-clothed Swiss law enforcement officials arrived unannounced at the Baur au Lac hotel, an elegant five-star property with views of the Alps and Lake Zurich.

The officers went to the registration desk to get keys, then headed upstairs toward the hotel rooms.

The charges allege widespread corruption in FIFA over the past two decades, involving bids for World Cups as well as marketing and broadcast deals, according to three law enforcement officials with direct knowledge of the case. The charges include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering. Prosecutors planned to unseal an indictment soon against more than 10 officials, not all of whom are in Zurich, law enforcement officials said.

Continued in link above.

What bids? Qatar? russia?

[VendettaRed07]

[Mr Nick09]

[Lord Awesome]

Rogers confirmed for next World Cup.

[rwo power]

The only drawback is that Blatter wasn't among the ones who were arrested.

[mr-r34]

Should've been Australia 2022 . Fkn Qatar

Qatar deserved the 2022 WC imo.

What a bunch of crock.

[Art Morte]

Let's hope this is just the beginning.

Swiss legal authorities have announced that criminal proceedings have opened "against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups".

[mr-r34]

God bless 'Merica*

Disclaimer: For this only.

[M99]

The arrests were made at the request of the United States Justice Department, which brought charges in the Eastern District of New York, based in Brooklyn, according to law enforcement officials.

BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE
ONE FALSE MOVE GET SWISS CHEESED UP

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8nos8vZ901qa3ybho2_500.jpg

USA to FIFA

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2940945/donovanshades.gif

[M99]

The Times got their hands on the indictment, and report that it names 14 people:

The indictment names 14 people on charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. In addition to senior soccer officials, the indictment is also expected to name sports-marketing executives from the United States and South America who are accused of paying more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for media deals associated with major soccer tournaments, according to one government official briefed on the matter

Those people include nine FIFA officials:

Jeffrey Webb (Cayman Islands) - President of CONCACAF, member of FIFA Executive Committee

Eugenio Figueredo (Uruguay) - President of CONMEBOL, member of FIFA Executive Committee

Jack Warner (Trinidad and Tobago) - President of CONCACAF from 1990 to 2011, former FIFA vice-president

Eduardo Li (Costa Rica) - President of the Costa Rican Football Federation, CONCACAF representative to FIFA

Julio Rocha (Nicaragua) - President of the Nicaraguan Football Federation, FIFA development officer

Costas Takkas (Cayman Islands) - Former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association

Rafael Esquivel (Venezuela) - President of the Venezuelan Football Federation, member of the FIFA disciplinary committee

José Maria Marin (Brazil) - President of the Brazilian Football Confederation from 2012 to 2015, president of the 2014 FIFA World Cup committee

Nicolás Leoz (Paraguay) - President of CONMEBOL from 1986 to 2013

And five sports marketing execs:

Alejandro Burzaco (Argentina) - CEO of Torneos y Competencias, which owns various sports television channels and broadcasted Argentine domestic football matches from 1992 to 2009

Aaron Davidson (United States) - President of Traffic Sports USA, which organizes and handles marketing for a variety of CONCACAF soccer events, like World Cup Qualifying and the Gold Cup. Chairman of the Board of the North American Soccer League, the soccer tier below MLS

Hugo Jinkis (Argentina) - President of Full Play, which owns some sort of rights (I am unclear which ones) to hundreds of South American soccer matches

Mariano Jinkis (Argentina) - CEO of Full Play, which owns some sort of rights (I am unclear which ones) to hundreds of South American soccer matches

José Margulies - (Brazil?) - Margulies is somehow involved with Traffic Sports

[iftikhar]

Issue is that some of the bribery occurred on US soil and/or involved US officials... so they broke US law and everything involved in the crime becomes accessory to the crime, which is also criminal. Since the US has extradition treaties with almost all the European countries and many more around the world, they can force criminals to be extradited to the US to face charges.

Very dumb on the part of FIFA.... and great for the sport. No way they will get away with this. The FBI does not spend these kind of resources unless they get their pound of flesh. And this is also the first major case for the new US Attorney that took office a month ago.

FIFA used to brush such logic saying those are their prerogative.

The only drawback is that Blatter wasn't among the ones who were arrested.

You can't possibly catch criminals of such magnitude. But even if 1/2 tentacles are slashed, it will do a world of good.

[M99]

The only drawback is that Blatter wasn't among the ones who were arrested.

Blatter isn't among those being charged, the officials say. But he was among those investigated, and officials say that part of the probe continues.

Translation for "we don't have enough on him right now"

Maybe they will offer the officials reduced sentences or some kind of deal if they testify against Blatter

[El Gunner]

Walter De Gregorio: “Sepp Blatter is relaxed.”

[RealGunner]

If Blatter has an ounce of dignity (doubt it), he needs to walk away now.

Can't wait till more digging up is done and all the corruption charges are revealed against him

[InterMalia]

I am just happy that CAF is less corrupt that their counterparts...at least in this report.

[BarrileteCosmico]

Can't wait for these 14 people to turn into Blatter and (the much worse) Platini

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

Blatter's not being arrested you say?

[Mr Nick09]

Obama saving football, for Africa, for the world

[Amar]

Fantastic news...of course it was expected Blatter distanced himself from any direct involvement, but it seems likely a few of the arrested will flip on Blatter to save themselves.

We can only hope the next person who takes the reign does clean this craphole of an organization up, but with the money that flies around football, wont be surprised if no significant changes are made.

[Unique]

honest to god. how does blatter get away with it.

[Sponsored content]