FIFA Corruption Investigation: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Arrest warrants have been issued after nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives were indicted on charges of "racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracies" on May 27, according to the United Statesย Department of Justice.
Swiss authorities carried out a raid on Zurich's Baur au Lac hotel on May 26, as both U.S. and Swiss officials investigate alleged corruption within football's governing body that may stretch back two decades. This includes the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively.
Sepp Blatter appeared to resign as FIFAย president on June 2 amid the situation, although he later denied having done so.ย Now the U.S. is looking to extradite seven FIFA officials.
Continue for updates.
Warner's Extradition Hearing Delayed
Monday, July 27
"The seven FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich on 27 May 2015 on the basis of a request from the USA, and detained pending extradition. On 1st July 2015, the US embassy in Bern submitted the formal extradition requests within the deadline laid down in the bilateral extradition treaty.
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Former FIFA VP Pleads Not Guiltyย
Saturday, July 18
Fox Soccerย reported former FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb pleaded not guilty to corruption charges. Webb served as FIFA VP and president of CONCACAFโthe football confederation for North America, Central America and the Caribbeanโfrom May 2012 until May 2015, when he was indicted for the corruption charges.
On July 17, the Associated Press (viaย ESPN FC)ย confirmedย Webb had "arrived in the United States to face racketeering and bribery charges... Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Norris told a Brooklyn judge Friday that Jeffrey Webb had been extradited from Switzerland. The prosecutor says no court date has been set for Webb."
Bolivian Football Chief Arrestedย
Friday, July 17
Theย BBC reportedย Bolivia Football Federation President Carlos Chavez was arrestedย for accusations of "alleged corruption in the management of resources," according to Bolivia's public prosecutor. The BBC report also stated Chaves is the treasurer of CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation.
Whistleblower Chuck Blazer Shown Lifelong Red Card by FIFAย
Thursday, July 9
"Fifa bans former Exco member and CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer for life," revealedย Dan Roan of BBC Sport.
Blazer's plea agreement, unsealed at the request of U.S. district judge Raymond J. Dearie, showed he has been an informant for the U.S. government dating back to 2013, per Sports Illustratedย on June 15.
On June 3, Blazer's confession implicated FIFA in bribery allegations:ย "I and others on FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with selection of South Africa as host nation," Blazer admitted, according to a tweet from Sky Sports' Bryan Swanson.
"I and others agreed bribes and kickbacks in conjunction with broadcast and other rights to '96, '98, '00, '02 and '03 Gold Cups," Blazer continued.
Grantย Wahl of Sports Illustrated provided Blazer's full plea, while Alexander Abnos of Sports Illustrated and Chris Cook of the BBC's Newsnight highlighted critical portions pertaining to locations of transactions and a bribe surrounding the 1998 World Cup:
2018, 2022 World Cup Bid Inspector Banned as Blatter Defends Russia and Qatarย
Monday, July 6
The Associated Press passed along word of the seven-year ban for FIFA chief inspectorย Harold Mayne-Nicholls as the controversy continues to swirl around the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively.
The news came a day after FIFA president Sepp Blatter said French and German presidents tried to sway the vote that awarded the 2022 tournament to Qatar, reported by German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, per Ciaran Fahey of the Associated Press:
"Messrs [Nicolas] Sarkozy and [Christian] Wulff tried to influence their voting representatives. That's why we now have a World Cup in Qatar. Those who decided it should take responsibility for it. I act on the leadership principal. If a majority of the executive committee wants a World Cup in Qatar then I have to accept that.
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Blatter went on to claim Wulff recommended the German federation "vote for Qatar out of economic interests."
"Look at the German companies!" he said before naming railway and construction firms. "Deutsche Bahn, Hochtief and many more had projects in Qatar even before the World Cup was awarded."
On June 17, the Swiss attorney general's office announced it had collected evidence from FIFA to aid the investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes.ย Graham Dunbarย of theย Associated Press provided the main takeaways from attorney general Michael Lauber's findings:
"Swiss banks have noted 53 possible money-laundering incidents in the investigation of FIFA's 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests.
Michael Lauber said the "suspicious bank relations" were reported within the framework of Switzerland's anti-money laundering regulations.
Lauber said he "does not exclude" interviewing FIFA President Sepp Blatter and secretary-general Jerome Valcke in the future, though neither are currently under suspicion.
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FIFA official Domenicoย Scala toldย Swiss newspaperย Sonntagszeitungย (viaย BBC Sport) on June 7:ย "Should there be evidence that the awards to Qatar and Russia came only because of bought votes, then the awards could be cancelled. ...ย Until today, the respective evidence has not been provided."
Despite the perceived corruption in regard to the bid,ย James Masters of CNN provided a release from Qatar on May 29 that stated there was no wrongdoing with regard to the nation's successful bid:
Blatter Fires Back at Critics After Denying Resignation
Wednesday, July 1
"I have a clean conscience," Blatter declared, as he categorically denied accusations of corruption during an interview with German magazine Bunte (via theย Guardian). He continued:
"If somebody accuses me of being corrupt, I ask him whether he knows the meaning of that word. Whoever calls me corrupt will have to prove it, but nobody can prove that because I am not corrupt.
I am open to correct or positive criticism. I can use that to reconsider if I need to change in the future. But if anybody calls me corrupt because Fifa is corrupt, I can only shake my head. Everybody who says something like that should go to jail.
My faith has given me strength during the last week. I am a religious person and pray, too. I own a golden cross that has been blessed by Pope Francis. I believe I will go to heaven one day. But I believe there is no hell. I disagree with the pope on that.
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Blatter initially appeared to have resigned as FIFA president on June 2, per BBC News, but later backtracked in an interview with Blick, per Eurosport's Tom Adams.
Warner Investigated Over Haiti Earthquake Funds
Tuesday, June 9
Warner "has been investigated by U.S. prosecutors over the disappearance of money meant for victims of the Haiti earthquake," reportedย BBC News.
Previous "documents suggest [Warner]ย used the payment for cash withdrawals, personal loans and to launder money," according to BBC'sย Ed Thomas.ย "The papers seen by the BBC detail three wire transfers by FIFA.ย In the three transactionsโon 4 January, 1 February and 10 March 2008โfunds totalling $10m (ยฃ6.5m) from FIFAย accounts were received intoย Concacafย accounts controlled by Jack Warner."
The 72-year-old politicianโwhoย was one of 14 people indicted on May 27 in the wake of investigations intoย FIFAย corruption, perย BBC Newsโhas promised full disclosure of his knowledge on FIFA dealings.ย
"I apologise for not disclosing my knowledge of these events before," Warner toldย Sky Newsย on June 4. "Not even death will stop the avalanche that is coming.ย The die is cast. There can be no turning back. Let the chips fall where they fall."
Interpolย released a Red Noticeโor wanted persons alertโfor his and five others' arrest on June 3.
FIFA Vows to Cooperate With Investigation
Tuesday, June 2
FIFA previously detailed the two individual investigations in its official statement, saying it isย "fully cooperating" with both.
Jeffrey Webb, FIFA vice-president and executive committee member, is among those charged. Warner, Leoz, Eugenio Figueredo,ย Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, Jose Maria Marin and Eduardo Li have also been indicted,ย reported by Matt Apuzzo, Stephanie Clifford and William K. Rashbaumย of the New York Times.
David McKenzie of CNN tweeted a prominent graphic:
Although yet to be confirmed by authorities,ย Josh Margolin and Susanna Kimย of ABC News report Blatter is under FBI investigation: "Sources familiar with the case told ABC News today that Blatter is being investigated by the FBI and U.S. prosecutors as part of the probe that led to last week's stunning indictments."
Interpol's Red Notices suggest authorities are closing in on those involved in corruption within FIFA, so if Blatter is to receive attention, it will likely be officially confirmed soon. With Blazer's plea now public, Warner may hold the next batch of pivotal information for both investigations.
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