2015 FIFA corruption case

Cases of corruption by officials and associates connected with FIFA January 2022 July 2018 2015 FIFA corruption case Hotel Baur au Lac, Zurich, where seven FIFA officials were arrested on 27 May 2015 Affaire de corruption à la FIFA (in French) French FIFA corruption case Hotel Baur au Lac, Zurich, Switzerland FIFA Gate 11 FIFA officials Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA president Investigation launched into the 2022 FIFA World Cup BOL Carlos Chávez Landivar URU Eugenio Figueredo ARG Hugo Jinkis ARG Mariano Jinkis PAR Nicolás Leoz PER Manuel Burga Seoane BRA José Maria Marin PAR Juan Ángel Napout NIC Julio Rocha López Cayman Islands Costas Takkas BRA Ricardo Teixeira TRI Jack Warner People USA Chuck Blazer (guilty plea) ARG Alejandro Burzaco (guilty plea) VEN Rafael Esquivel (guilty plea) BRA José Hawilla (guilty plea) HON 1949 Alfredo Hawit (guilty plea) BRA José Margulies (guilty plea) TRI Daryan Warner (guilty plea) CHI Sergio Jadue (guilty plea) CAY Jeffrey Webb (guilty plea) CRC Eduardo Li (guilty plea) USA Aaron Davidson (guilty plea) Corporations Traffic Sports International Inc. (guilty plea) Traffic Sports USA (guilty plea) In 2015, United States federal prosecutors disclosed cases of corruption by officials and associates connected with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the governing body of association football, futsal and beach soccer. Near the end of May 2015, fourteen people were indicted in connection with an investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) division into wire fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. The United States attorney general simultaneously announced the unsealing of the indictments and the prior guilty pleas by four football executives and two corporations. The investigation revolved around collusion between officials of continental football bodies CONMEBOL (South America) and CONCACAF (Caribbean, Central and North America), and sports marketing executives. The sports marketing executives were holders of media and marketing rights for high-profile international competitions including the FIFA World Cup qualifying tournaments in the Americas, the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa América. CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, also serving president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, was arrested in connection with the investigation, as was former CONMEBOL president Nicolás Leoz, while two sitting FIFA Executive Committee members were also arrested: Eduardo Li of the Costa Rican Football Federation and Eugenio Figueredo, formerly of the Uruguayan Football Association. The investigation lasted several years, with the first arrest, of former CONCACAF president Jack Warner's son Daryll, made in July 2013.FIFA Indictments The New York Times 27 May 2015 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/27/sports/soccer/document-fifa-indictments.html 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528182732/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/27/sports/soccer/document-fifa-indictments.html livehttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nine-fifa-officials-and-five-corporate-executives-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption 27 May 2015 27 May 2015 United States Department of Justice 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527093831/http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nine-fifa-officials-and-five-corporate-executives-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and live In total, seven then-current FIFA officials were arrested at the Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich on 27 May. They were preparing to attend the 65th FIFA Congress, which was scheduled to include the election of the president of FIFA. They were expected to be extradited to the United States on suspicion of receiving 150 million yes in bribes.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/several-top-fifa-officials-arrested Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges as World Cup inquiry launched 27 May 2015 The Guardian 27 May 2015 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527081541/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/several-top-fifa-officials-arrested live There was also a simultaneous raid on the CONCACAF headquarters in Miami Beach,Matthew Jennie https://sports.yahoo.com/news/us-prosecutors-allege-world-cup-soccer-fraud-171045862--sow.html US prosecutors allege 'World Cup' of soccer fraud Agence France-Presse 27 May 2015 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528142820/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/us-prosecutors-allege-world-cup-soccer-fraud-171045862--sow.html liveFBI raids CONCACAF office in Miami Beach 27 May 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bky2GHEU4s en 2022-11-27 27 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221127103150/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bky2GHEU4s live and later, two further men handed themselves in to police for arrest: Jack Warner and marketing executive Alejandro Burzaco. Two further arrests of FIFA officials at the hotel occurred in December 2015.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34991874 Fifa arrests: Two Fifa vice-presidents detained at Zurich hotel 3 December 2015 BBC News 3 December 2015 3 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151203073259/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34991874 live The arrests case triggered Australia,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/29/fifa-crisis-australian-police-agree-to-look-into-500000-paid-to-jack-warner Fifa crisis: Australian police agree to look into $500,000 paid to Jack Warner The Guardian 29 May 2015 10 December 2016 31 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160831163330/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/29/fifa-crisis-australian-police-agree-to-look-into-500000-paid-to-jack-warner live Colombia,http://colombiareports.com/colombia-joins-investigation-into-fifa-corruption/ Colombia joins investigation into FIFA corruption 28 May 2015 colombiareports.com 29 May 2015 29 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150529074814/http://colombiareports.com/colombia-joins-investigation-into-fifa-corruption/ live Costa Rica,http://thecostaricanews.com/costa-rica-prosecutors-open-investigation-into-fifa-arrest-of-official-eduardo-li Costa Rica Prosecutors Open Investigation into Arrest of FIFA Official Eduardo Li The Costa Rica News dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150529074952/http://thecostaricanews.com/costa-rica-prosecutors-open-investigation-into-fifa-arrest-of-official-eduardo-li 29 May 2015 GermanyGerman football chief resigns over corruption allegations https://web.archive.org/web/20151123000427/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34770939 23 November 2015 , BBC Sports, 9 November 2015 and Switzerlandhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32912533 Fifa scandal: What took Switzerland so long to investigate? BBC News 28 May 2015 21 June 2018 6 August 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180806070132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32912533 live to open or intensify separate criminal investigations into top FIFA officials for corruption. Allegations The 2015 case was centred on the alleged use of bribery, fraud and money laundering to corrupt the issuing of media and marketing rights for FIFA games in the Americas, estimated at $150 million, including at least $110 million in bribes related to the Copa América Centenario to be hosted in 2016 in the United States.https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/27/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges-live Fifa in crisis amid corruption arrests and World Cup voting inquiry – live updates (15:51) Bryan Armen Graham 27 May 2015 27 May 2015 The Guardian 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527063902/http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/27/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges-live live The indictment handed down by the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York, alleges that bribery was used in an attempt to influence clothing sponsorship contracts, the selection process for the 2010 FIFA World Cup host, and the 2011 FIFA presidential election. Specifically, an unnamed sports equipment company – identified in multiple sources as Nike, Inc.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/28/fifa-crisis-blatter-calls-resign-sponsors-disappointment Fifa scandal: Visa sponsorship threat compounds calls for Blatter to quit The Guardian Claire Phipps Damien Gayle 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528082825/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/28/fifa-crisis-blatter-calls-resign-sponsors-disappointment livehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2015/05/27/major-u-s-sportswear-company-implicated-in-soccer-bribery-scheme/ Nike Implicated in Soccer Bribery Scheme Forbes Darren Heitner 27 May 2015 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528124449/http://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2015/05/27/major-u-s-sportswear-company-implicated-in-soccer-bribery-scheme/ livehttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/27/fifa-scandal-nike-brazil_n_7453032.html Nike Just Became Part of the FIFA Corruption Scandal HuffPost Lucy McCalmont Ben Walsh 27 May 2015 28 May 2015 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527202632/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/27/fifa-scandal-nike-brazil_n_7453032.html live – is alleged to have paid at least $40 million in bribes to become the sole provider of uniforms, footwear, accessories, and equipment to the Brazil national team. In December 2010, federal law enforcement agents secured the undercover cooperation of American football executive and CONCACAF official Chuck Blazer.http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/soccer-rat-ex-u-s-soccer-exec-chuck-blazer-fbi-informant-article-1.1995761 Soccer Rat! The inside story of how Chuck Blazer, ex-U.S. soccer executive and FIFA bigwig, became a confidential informant for the FBI - NY Daily News Teri Thompson Christian Red Nathaniel Vinton New York Daily News November 2014 6 July 2016 10 February 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170210113533/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/soccer-rat-ex-u-s-soccer-exec-chuck-blazer-fbi-informant-article-1.1995761 live The FBI's New York office had begun its probe as a spin-off of an unrelated organised crime investigation, and in August 2011, IRS-CI's Los Angeles office began investigating Blazer's alleged failure to file personal income tax returns.Apuzzo Matt A U.S. Tax Investigation Snowballed to Stun the Soccer World https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/sports/soccer/more-indictments-expected-in-fifa-case-irs-official-says.html 14 June 2015 The New York Times 29 May 2015 6 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150606171539/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/sports/soccer/more-indictments-expected-in-fifa-case-irs-official-says.html live In December 2011, IRS-CI became aware of what the FBI was up to from news reports and the two offices began a joint investigation of Blazer. They were investigating Blazer's involvement in the bidding process for host countries for the FIFA World Cups from the early 1990s onwards. The United States is one of five countries that broadly exercise worldwide jurisdiction to tax the net income of its citizens from any source in the world. It also requires taxpayers to report and pay tax on illegal income, and exercises worldwide jurisdiction over all financial institutions with U.S.-based account holders. Blazer agreed to cooperate almost immediately after two agents approached him in New York and confronted him with proof of his tax crimes. In December 2010, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and British Prime Minister David Cameron attended a meeting with FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon in which a vote-trading deal for the right to host the 2018 World Cup was discussed."Prince William and David Cameron caught up in Fifa corruption scandal https://web.archive.org/web/20200313120755/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/prince-william-david-cameron-caught-fifa-corruption-scandal/ 13 March 2020 ". The Daily Telegraph. 27 June 2017."Video: David Cameron and Prince William implicated in FIFA corruption probe https://web.archive.org/web/20190914104818/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-david-cameron-and-prince-william-implicated-in-fifa-corruption-probe-35874189.html 14 September 2019 ". The Belfast Telegraph. 28 June 2017. In November 2013, Blazer pleaded guilty to 10 criminal charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and offences involving income tax and banking. Blazer's guilty plea had aimed to stave off a more serious charge of racketeering, which carried a potential 20-year prison sentence. Blazer later made covert recordings of meetings with FIFA officials, reportedly using a concealed device during the 2012 Summer Olympics. The information against Blazer (the charging document used in lieu of an indictment for a plea bargain) was revealed on 27 May 2015, the same day that the arrests were made in Zurich.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/fifa-arrests-corruption-loretta-lynch-chuck-blazer Fifa arrests: how a well-placed insider and stashed cash helped US build case Dan Roberts 27 May 2015 The Guardian 27 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528000401/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/fifa-arrests-corruption-loretta-lynch-chuck-blazer livehttps://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/sports/soccer/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges-blatter-isnt-among-them.html FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Sepp Blatter Isn't Among Them Matt Apuzzo Michael S. Schmidt William K. Rashbaum Sam Borden 27 May 2015 The New York Times 27 May 2015 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527083026/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/sports/soccer/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges-blatter-isnt-among-them.html live In 2011, Phaedra Al-Majid, who was part of the successful 2022 Qatari World Cup Bid, came forward as a whistle-blower. She claimed that Qatar paid $1.5 million to African Football Confederation president Issa Hayatou, Ivory Coast FIFA member Jacques Anouma and Nigeria's suspended official Amos Adamu to vote for Qatar; all three denied the allegations. She later stated that she had fabricated her claims for media attention.Qatar 2022 'whistleblower' in corruption U-turn https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14098944 10 June 2015 BBC Sport 10 July 2011 3 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150103182040/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14098944 liveHayatou and Anouma backed by Caf over bribery claims https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13417453 10 June 2015 BBC Sport 16 May 2011 25 August 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150825123211/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13417453 live Al-Majid co-operated with the Garcia Report. In November 2014, she stated that she was coerced into withdrawing her allegations as she feared for her safety and due to her lack of legal representation.Fifa whistleblower Phaedra Al-Majid fears for her safety https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30122601 10 June 2015 BBC Sport 20 November 2014 28 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150728090106/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30122601 live 2015 June, she was in FBI protective custody, when she stated, "The FBI have everything... There are people who are annoyed with me [for speaking out], and what really irks them is that I'm a female, Muslim whistleblower... I just don't think Blatter actually intends to quit. Everything he does is very calculated. He'll try very hard to save himself, I'm sure of it."https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11657595/Fifa-corruption-Morocco-2010-World-Cup-vote-live.html Fifa corruption: 'Morocco won 2010 World Cup vote - not South Africa' - as it happened Luke Brown and Nicholas Randall 7 June 2015 www.telegraph.co.uk 9 May 2020 29 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190929024201/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11657595/Fifa-corruption-Morocco-2010-World-Cup-vote-live.html live In May 2011, The Sunday Times published claims from a whistle-blower that President of CAF Issa Hayatou had, along with fellow Executive Committee member Jacques Anouma, accepted $1.5 million bribes from Qatar to secure his support for their bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/918397/fifa-demands-evidence-of-corruption- FIFA demands evidence of corruption 11 May 2011 ESPN Soccernet 11 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20150216094958/http://www.espnfc.com/story/918397/fifa-demands-evidence-of-corruption 16 February 2015 In 2013, former FIFA President João Havelange and the Brazilian Football Confederation President Ricardo Teixeira were both found to have taken bribes worth millions of dollars. FIFA executive committee member Manilal Fernando was sanctioned with a lifetime ban for bribery and corruption.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/mar/12/fifa-ricardo-teixeira-resigns Fifa corruption intrigue deepens as Brazil's Ricardo Teixeira resigns Conn David 12 March 2012 The Guardian 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528012903/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/mar/12/fifa-ricardo-teixeira-resigns livehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22351630 Joao Havelange, Fifa's honorary president, resigns over bribes Conway Richard 30 April 2013 BBC Sport 28 May 2015 27 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150227005259/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22351630 live $10 million South African payment In the wake of the corruption case, it was reported that in 2008 the general secretary of FIFA, Jérôme Valcke was alleged to have transferred $10 million that had been given to FIFA by Danny Jordaan, president of the South African Football Association, to accounts controlled by Jack Warner, then head of CONCACAF. The payment is a key piece of the American prosecutors' indictment that accuses Warner of taking a bribe in exchange for helping South Africa secure the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.Bribery Inquiry Drawing Closer to FIFA's President, Sepp Blatter https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/sports/soccer/sepp-blatters-top-fifa-deputy-jerome-valcke-is-said-to-have-transferred-money-central-to-bribery-case.html 4 June 2015 The New York Times 1 June 2015 4 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150604045111/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/sports/soccer/sepp-blatters-top-fifa-deputy-jerome-valcke-is-said-to-have-transferred-money-central-to-bribery-case.html live The payment from the South African Football Association had been intended to support the development of football in the Caribbean. $1.6 million of the South African payment was used by Warner to pay personal loans and credit cards and a further $360,000 was withdrawn by people connected to Warner. The Trinidadian supermarket chain JTA Supermarkets also received $4,860,000 from the FIFA payment.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-33039014 Fifa corruption: Documents show details of Jack Warner 'bribes' BBC News 7 June 2015 21 June 2018 13 October 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181013044043/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-33039014 live Laws used in charging The Department of Justice has not charged anyone at FIFA with bribery. Prosecutors have instead alleged racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) Act, which was intended for use against the Mafia.https://www.economist.com/news/international/21653613-why-america-and-not-another-country-going-after-fifa-worlds-lawyer The world's lawyer The Economist 6 June 2015 30 July 2015 14 August 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150814025617/http://www.economist.com/news/international/21653613-why-america-and-not-another-country-going-after-fifa-worlds-lawyer live In addition, officials have been charged with violations of the Travel Act. The relevant part of the law essentially says that it is illegal to engage in interstate or foreign travel, or use the mails or "any facility in interstate commerce" to promote, manage, establish or carry on an illegal activity. That activity can be illegal under either federal or state law.https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/06/economist-explains How America is pursuing FIFA The Economist 1 June 2015 30 July 2015 29 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150629202016/http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/06/economist-explains live Bribery is definitely included on the list of what is considered an illegal activity under the Travel Act. Any relevant transaction, even if it is only tangentially related to America, can be targeted. In one instance, a representative of First Caribbean International Bank in the Bahamas flew to New York to pick up a cheque for $250,000 (the alleged bribe) from the bribe recipient to transport it safely back to the defendant's bank account. Swiss criminal inquiries Garcia Report FIFA commissioned former United States Attorney Michael J. Garcia to investigate and report on the bidding processes behind the awarding of the 2018 FIFA World Cup to Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar. In November 2014, FIFA made a copy of Garcia's report available to the Attorney General of Switzerland, who then stated that there were "grounds for suspicion that, in isolated cases, international transfers of assets with connections to Switzerland took place which merit examination by the criminal prosecution authorities".https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/18/fifa-criminal-complaint-world-cup-bids Fifa lodges criminal complaint with Swiss courts over World Cup bids 14 November 2012 The Guardian 26 May 2015 29 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150529022559/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/18/fifa-criminal-complaint-world-cup-bids live Sepp Blatter had been president of FIFA since 1998 (until his removal in December 2015). The Guardian said that FIFA's actions would "... inevitably be viewed with cynicism given Blatter's track record of using the Swiss courts and FIFA's regulatory processes to kick problematic issues into the long grass and deflect attention onto individuals who have already left football". In May 2015, on the same day as the arrests resulting from the FBI's investigation and in a separate action, the Swiss prosecuting authorities launched a criminal inquiry on "suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering" concerning the 2018 and 2022 bidding processes. The Swiss authorities seized "electronic data and documents" in a raid on FIFA's Zürich headquarters.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-32897157 Fifa corruption inquiry 26 May 2015 BBC News 26 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528124537/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-32897157 live The Swiss police also planned to question ten members of the FIFA Executive Committee who participated in the December 2010 votes that chose the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 world cups.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32895048 Fifa corruption inquiry 27 May 2015 BBC News 27 May 2015 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527065003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32895048 live In September 2015, Switzerland began investigating a payment Blatter authorised in 2011 to the president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini for work done between 1999 and 2002.Sepp Blatter under criminal investigation by Swiss officials over 'disloyal payment' to Michel Platini – as it happened https://web.archive.org/web/20180204071128/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/sepp-blatter/11891462/Sepp-Blatter-under-criminal-investigation-at-Fifa-live.html 4 February 2018 , The Telegraph, 27 September 2015 They also launched an investigation of possible "criminal mismanagement" by Blatter in a 2005 TV rights deal he signed with Jack Warner. In March 2017, FIFA submitted 1300 pages of reports to the Swiss Attorney General's office.https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-fifa-investigation-20170331-story.html FIFA sends 1,300-page corruption investigation to Swiss attorney general Associated Press Los Angeles Times 31 March 2017 20 February 2020 24 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200724224825/https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-fifa-investigation-20170331-story.html live After investigation, in November 2021 Blatter and Platini were charged with fraud in relation to the 2 million Swiss franc payment made from FIFA funds to Platini in 2011.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59133079 Ex-Fifa president Blatter and ex-Uefa boss Platini charged with fraud BBC News 2 November 2021 Television rights In September 2015, Swiss public television channel SRF published that Blatter would have sold the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup rights in North America for US$600,000, a small fraction of their market value.Did Blatter give Warner discount? https://web.archive.org/web/20151023092549/http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/Did-Blatter-give-Warner-discount-20150912 23 October 2015 – Sports 24, 12 September 2015 Torneos & Traffic (T&T) is a subsidiary of Fox International Channels since 2005http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/notas/conmebol-renovo-con-mismos-duenos-de-investigada-tt-1469576.html Conmebol renovó con mismos dueños de investigada T&T - Edicion Impresa - ABC Color ABC Color 11 April 2016 14 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160414010910/http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/notas/conmebol-renovo-con-mismos-duenos-de-investigada-tt-1469576.html live (with investments since 2002). It is the same company named in legal documents relating to allegations of corruption in the acquisition of media rights for South American football tournaments.https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-fox-worked-with-fifa-middlemen-1433719761 DirecTV, Fox Worked With FIFA Middlemen Tripp Mickle Patricia Kowsmann Joe Flint 7 June 2015 The Wall Street Journal 4 March 2017 5 December 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161205181712/http://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-fox-worked-with-fifa-middlemen-1433719761 live Indicted individuals and corporations A total of 18 individuals and two corporations have been indicted, including nine FIFA officials and five businessmen.Fifa corruption: arrests made following hotel raid https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11631966/fifa-executives-arrested-live.html https://archive.today/20150529042032/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11631966/fifa-executives-arrested-live.html dead 29 May 2015 27 May 2015 The Daily Telegraph 27 May 2015 Initial indictments Individuals Name Nationality Position Status Ref. Chuck Blazer United States Former General Secretary of CONCACAF Guilty plea Alejandro Burzaco Argentina CEO of Torneos y Competenciashttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33062185 Fifa scandal: Alejandro Burzaco resurfaces in Italy BBC News 9 June 2015 10 June 2015 9 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150609234749/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33062185 live Aaron Davidson United States Chairman of the board of Governors of the North American Soccer League and President of Traffic Sports USAhttp://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Aaron-Davidson-Miami-Soccer-Executive-Arrested-by-FBI-in-FIFA-Corruption-Probe-305239251.html Aaron Davidson, Miami Soccer Executive, Arrested by FBI in FIFA Corruption Probe NBC Miami 27 May 2015 12 June 2015 Dan Krauth 14 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150614091622/http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Aaron-Davidson-Miami-Soccer-Executive-Arrested-by-FBI-in-FIFA-Corruption-Probe-305239251.html livehttp://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/marketing-executive-pleads-not-guilty-in-fifa-corruption-scandal-released-on-bail-052915 Marketing exec pleads not guilty in FIFA scandal, released on bail Fox Sports 29 May 2015 12 June 2015 Associated Press 1 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150601015426/http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/marketing-executive-pleads-not-guilty-in-fifa-corruption-scandal-released-on-bail-052915 livehttp://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-idUKKCN12K2BG Ex-marketing executive pleads guilty in U.S. bribery probe of FIFA Raymond Nate 21 October 2016 Reuters UK 22 October 2016 22 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161022153127/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-idUKKCN12K2BG dead Rafael Esquivel Venezuela President of the Venezuelan Football Federation and member of the CONMEBOL executive committeeUnited States Department of Justice 10 November 2016 Former President Of The Venezuelan Soccer Federation Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Corruption Charges https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-venezuelan-soccer-federation-pleads-guilty-racketeering-and-corruption live https://web.archive.org/web/20161115132622/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-venezuelan-soccer-federation-pleads-guilty-racketeering-and-corruption 15 November 2016 18 June 2026 www.justice.gov Eugenio Figueredo UruguayUnited Stateshttps://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/demencia-ingles-us-millones-soborno.html De la demencia con el inglés, a los US$ 110 millones de soborno Diario EL PAIS Uruguay 27 May 2015 11 July 2020 3 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180703221038/https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/demencia-ingles-us-millones-soborno.html live FIFA vice president, former president of the Uruguayan Football Association, and former president of CONMEBOL Arrested2015-09-17 Fifa suspect Eugenio Figueredo faces extradition to US en-GB BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34282632 2022-11-15 15 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221115164908/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34282632 live José Hawilla Brazil Owner and founder of Traffic Group Guilty plea Alfredo Hawit Honduras 1949 President of CONCACAF; FIFA Vice-presidentFormer High-Ranking FIFA And CONCACAF Official Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Corruption Charges https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-high-ranking-fifa-and-concacaf-official-pleads-guilty-racketeering-and United States Department of Justice 11 April 2016 14 November 2022 Sergio Jadue Chile Former President of Football Federation of Chile and member of the CONMEBOL executive committee2016-05-06 Life bans for ex-South America FA duo Jadue, Bedoya en Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fifa-chile-ban-idUSKCN0XX0ZF 2022-11-22 22 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221122173235/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fifa-chile-ban-idUSKCN0XX0ZF live Hugo Jinkis Argentina President of Full Play Group Surrenderedhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-fifa-jinkis-idUSKBN0OY1DM20150618 Argentines sought by U.S. in FIFA scandal surrender: local media Reuters 18 June 2015 18 June 2015 Eliana Raszewski Sarah Marsh 18 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150618174819/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/18/us-soccer-fifa-jinkis-idUSKBN0OY1DM20150618 live Mariano Jinkis Vice-president of Full Play Group S.A.; son of Hugo Jinkis Nicolás Leoz ParaguayColombia Former President of CONMEBOL Arrested (Died)Ruiz Rebecca R. 2019-09-01 Nicolás Leoz, FIFA Official Charged in Corruption Scandal, Dies at 90 (Published 2019) en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/01/obituaries/nicolas-leoz-dead.html 2020-11-24 0362-4331 14 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221114003050/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/01/obituaries/nicolas-leoz-dead.html live Eduardo Li Costa Rica President of the Costa Rican Football Federation, member-elect of the FIFA executive committee, and member of the CONCACAF executive committee Guilty PleaFormer President Of The Costa Rican Soccer Federation And Member-Elect Of The FIFA Executive Committee Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Corruption Charges. Justice.gov. United States Department of Justice 7 October 2017 24 March 2018 https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-costa-rican-soccer-federation-and-member-elect-fifa-executive 9 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180709064529/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-costa-rican-soccer-federation-and-member-elect-fifa-executive live José Margulies José Margulies Brazil Secretary-General of Traffic Sports Brazil José Maria Marin Former President of the Brazilian Football Confederation and former Governor of São Paulo Convicted Ruiz Rebecca R. 2017-12-22 2 Top Soccer Officials Found Guilty in FIFA Case https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/sports/soccer/fifa-trial.html 2026-06-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 23 December 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171223031609/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/sports/soccer/fifa-trial.html live Juan Ángel Napout Paraguay President of CONMEBOL; FIFA Vice-president Julio Rocha López Nicaragua President of the Nicaraguan Football Federation, FIFA development officer, and former president of the Central American Football Union Guilty PleaFormer President Of The Nicaraguan Soccer Federation And FIFA Development Officer Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Corruption Charges justice.gov United States Department of Justice 7 December 2016 24 March 2018 https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-nicaraguan-soccer-federation-and-fifa-development-officer-pleads 25 March 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180325044957/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-nicaraguan-soccer-federation-and-fifa-development-officer-pleads live Costas Takkas Cayman Islands Former General Secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association and Attaché to the CONCACAF PresidentCONCACAF And Cayman Islands Soccer Official Pleads Guilty To Money Laundering Charge justice.gov. United States Department of Justice 24 May 2017 24 March 2018 https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-concacaf-and-cayman-islands-soccer-official-pleads-guilty-money-laundering 24 March 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224216/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-concacaf-and-cayman-islands-soccer-official-pleads-guilty-money-laundering live Carlos Chávez Landivar Carlos Chávez (football administrator) Bolivia President of the Bolivian Football Federation and former treasurer of the CONMEBOL Arrested (Died) Daryan Warner 1 Trinidad and Tobago Grenada Son of Jack Warner Guilty plea Daryll Warner 1 Trinidad and Tobago United States Son of Jack Warner and former FIFA development officer Jack Warner Jack Warner (football executive) Trinidad and Tobago Former vice president of FIFA, former president of CONCACAF, and former minister of national security Arrestedhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/28/former-fifa-kingpin-jack-warner-spends-night-in-jail-after-corruption-arrest Jack Warner : former Fifa kingpin spends night in jail after corruption arrest The Guardian 28 May 2015 29 May 2015 Rupert Neate, Owen Gibson and agencies 29 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150529041316/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/28/former-fifa-kingpin-jack-warner-spends-night-in-jail-after-corruption-arrest live Jeffrey Webb Jeffrey Webb (football executive) Cayman Islands President of CONCACAF, President of the Cayman Islands Football Association, and FIFA Vice President Guilty plea Corporations Name Nationality Description Status Ref. Traffic Sports International British Virgin Islands Football events management company and subsidiary of Traffic Group Guilty plea Traffic Sports USA United States US Imagina LLC Media company and subsidiary of Spanish Mediapro group Second indictment The December indictment included the following 16 individuals: Name Nationality Position Status Ref. Ariel Alvarado Panama Former member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. Former CONCACAF Executive Committee member https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34991874 Fifa crisis: US charges 16 more officials after earlier Zurich arrests 3 December 2015 BBC Sport 3 December 2015 3 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151203195200/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34991874 live Manuel Burga Manuel Burga Seoane Peru Former member of the FIFA Development Committee. Former Peruvian soccer federation president. Arrested Rafael Callejas Honduras 1949 Former member of the FIFA Television and Marketing Committee. Former Honduran football federation president and former president of the Republic of Honduras. Guilty Plea United States Department of Justice 28 March 2016 Former President Of Honduran Soccer Federation Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Corruption Charges https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-honduran-soccer-federation-pleads-guilty-racketeering-and-corruption live https://web.archive.org/web/20170204170037/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-honduran-soccer-federation-pleads-guilty-racketeering-and-corruption 4 February 2017 18 June 2026 www.justice.gov Carlos Chávez Bolivia Former CONMEBOL treasurer. Former Bolivian football federation president. Arrested Luis Chiriboga Ecuador Former Ecuadorian football federation president and member of the CONMEBOL Executive Committee. Eduardo Deluca Argentina Former CONMEBOL general secretary. Marco Polo Del Nero Brazil Former president of the Brazilian football federation. Alfredo Hawit Honduras 1949 Former FIFA vice president and executive committee member and CONCACAF president. Guilty Plea Brayan Jiménez Guatemala Former Guatemalan football federation president and member of the FIFA Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility. Former President Of Guatemalan Soccer Federation Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Corruption Charges justice.gov United States Department of Justice 29 July 2016 24 March 2018 https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-guatemalan-soccer-federation-pleads-guilty-racketeering-and-corruption 24 March 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224145/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-president-guatemalan-soccer-federation-pleads-guilty-racketeering-and-corruption live José Luis Meiszner Argentina Former CONMEBOL general secretary. Arrested Juan Ángel Napout Paraguay Former FIFA vice president, Executive Committee member and CONMEBOL president, Paraguayan football federation president. Romer Osuna Bolivia Former member of the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee. Former CONMEBOL treasurer. Died Rafael Salguero Guatemala Former FIFA Executive Committee member and Guatemalan football federation president. Guilty Plea Ricardo Teixeira Brazil Former Brazilian football federation president and FIFA Executive Committee member. Héctor Trujillo football Guatemala Former Guatemalan football federation general secretary and judge on the Constitutional Court of Guatemala. Guilty Plea https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/sports/soccer/judge-in-fifa-scandal-arrested-when-cruise-ship-docks-in-florida.html Judge in FIFA Scandal Arrested When Cruise Ship Docks in Florida Matt Apuzzo 4 December 2015 New York Times sports 30 December 2015 17 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151217065537/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/sports/soccer/judge-in-fifa-scandal-arrested-when-cruise-ship-docks-in-florida.html liveHector Trujillo, former Guatemalan football official, jailed in FIFA scandal https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11098855/hector-trujillo-former-guatemalan-football-official-jailed-in-fifa-scandal 2022-11-10 Sky Sports en 10 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221110143359/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11098855/hector-trujillo-former-guatemalan-football-official-jailed-in-fifa-scandal live Reynaldo Vasquez El Salvador Former Salvadoran football federation president. Roger Huguet Spain CEO of US Imagina LLC (Mediapro subsidiary) Fabio Tordin Italy Executive of US Imagina LLC and former CEO of Traffic Sports USA Gerard Romy Spain Co-founder and co-CEO of Mediapro Fugitivehttps://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/three-media-executives-and-sports-marketing-company-indicted-fifa-case Three Media Executives and Sports Marketing Company Indicted in FIFA Case U.S. Department of Justice 2020-03-18 2025-01-04 22 July 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250722025407/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/three-media-executives-and-sports-marketing-company-indicted-fifa-case live Timeline of events Historical events leading to the arrests In 2001, FIFA affiliate International Sports and Leisure went bankrupt in what were viewed in some circles as suspicious circumstances.Jennings Andrew Andrew Jennings The Beautiful Bung: Corruption and the World Cup https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/5070224.stm 10 June 2015 Panorama 11 June 2006 7 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907123450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/5070224.stm live In 2002 a FIFA whistleblower contacted British journalist Andrew Jennings relating to alleged corruption within FIFA itself.Miller Michael E. How a curmudgeonly old reporter exposed the FIFA scandal that toppled Sepp Blatter https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/03/how-a-curmudgeonly-old-reporter-exposed-the-fifa-scandal-that-toppled-sepp-blatter/ 10 June 2015 The Washington Post 3 June 2015 9 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190509191215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/03/how-a-curmudgeonly-old-reporter-exposed-the-fifa-scandal-that-toppled-sepp-blatter/ live Following investigations Swiss magistrate Thomas Hildbrand seized documents from FIFA offices in 2005 and in 2007 Jennings published a book – Foul – and broadcast the BBC Panorama documentary "The Beautiful Bung: Corruption and the World Cup". Panorama later aired the "Fifa and Co" documentary in 2007, which contained an allegation of soliciting a bribe against Jack Warner and a court judgement that Jérôme Valcke had lied in FIFA business dealings.Fifa and Coe https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/7056420.stm 10 June 2015 BBC News 29 October 2007 12 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090412221442/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/7056420.stm live These reports led the FBI to contact Jennings in 2009. On 29 November 2010 the BBC broadcast FIFA's Dirty Secrets, a second documentary by Jennings. This was aired just days before the results of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bids in Zurich, Switzerland. Following the bidding process, FIFA announced that Russia and Qatar had won the rights to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively. The result immediately caused controversies, as Russia is accused of a high level of racism in football. After it was announced that Russia would host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Dr Rafał Pankowski, a head of UEFA FARE Monitoring Centre, accused the Russian Football Union of downplaying racist chants in stadiums.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/03/world-cup-2018-russian-racism World Cup 2018 win raises Russian racism fears Rajeev Syal 3 December 2010 The Guardian 30 July 2015 12 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144013/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/03/world-cup-2018-russian-racism live The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014 led to several British and American politicians calling on FIFA to overturn its decision of hosting the 2018 World Cup in Russia.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26679542 Fifa urged to rethink staging 2018 World Cup in Russia BBC 21 March 2013 30 July 2015 7 April 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140407092515/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26679542 live Criticism from a number of media outlets, sporting experts, and human rights groups also highlighted problems such as Qatar's limited football history, the high expected cost, the local climate, and Qatar's human rights record.https://sports.yahoo.com/news/14-reasons-qatar-world-cup-174400894.html 14 reasons the Qatar World Cup is going to be a disaster Tony Manfred Yahoo! Sports 1 March 2015 30 July 2015 29 August 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150829130059/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/14-reasons-qatar-world-cup-174400894.html live Since in summer temperature will reach more than 50 °C (122 °F) in Qatar, it was announced on 24 February 2015 that a winter World Cup would go ahead in favour of the traditional summertime event. In 2011, former MI6 spy Christopher Steele began providing information and sources to the FBI, which helped advance the investigation.The New Yorker March 2018 Jane Mayer https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/12/christopher-steele-the-man-behind-the-trump-dossier Christopher Steele, the Man Behind the Trump Dossier https://web.archive.org/web/20180305154848/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/12/christopher-steele-the-man-behind-the-trump-dossier 5 March 2018 In 2011, Steele contacted an American agent he'd met who headed the Bureau's division for serious crimes in Eurasia. Steele introduced him to his sources, who proved essential to the ensuing investigation. In May 2011 a whistleblower later revealed to be Phaedra Almajid who was a member of the Qatari bid team for the 2022 World Cup, claimed that money was paid to FIFA's executive committee in order to buy votes.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13345669 Caf's Hayatou and Anouma accused of taking Qatar bribes BBC Sport 13 February 2018 17 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160117034201/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13345669 live However, she retracted these claims in July 2011, later claiming that she had been coerced into making these retractions. In May 2013, former CONCACAF executive Chuck Blazer was arrested (and later indicted) on bribery charges. Jack Warner and Blazer were suspended from FIFA at around the same time.http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/football-americas/12369-audit-slays-concacafs-one-time-dynamic-duo Audit slays CONCACAFs one-time dynamic duo – Inside World Football Paul Nicholson insideworldfootball.com 9 June 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528071436/http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/football-americas/12369-audit-slays-concacafs-one-time-dynamic-duo live Then on 17 October 2014 FIFA announced that the Garcia Report into alleged bribery during the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bids could not be released in full for legal reasons. Garcia later claimed that a summary of the report that was released misrepresents his findings.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/11228523/Fifa-has-misrepresented-my-report-says-investigator.html Fifa report into World Cup bid process 'misrepresented', says investigator Michael Garcia 13 November 2014 The Daily Telegraph 4 April 2018 12 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180712222322/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/11228523/Fifa-has-misrepresented-my-report-says-investigator.html live Mediapro involvement On December 14, 2014, Spanish UDEF agents and FBI officials searched Mediapro's Barcelona and Madrid offices at the request of US authorities as part of the emerging FIFA corruption investigation.https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/registradas-empresas-de-roures-por-pagar-sobornos-para-retransmitir-el-mundial_39012_102.html Mediapro: Registro en las empresas de Roures por el pago de sobornos para retransmitir el Mundial Crónica Global es 2025-01-04 3 December 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211203005349/https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/registradas-empresas-de-roures-por-pagar-sobornos-para-retransmitir-el-mundial_39012_102.html live In the initial May 27, 2015 indictments, Mediapro appeared anonymously as "Sports Marketing Company C."https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/nine-fifa-officials-and-five-corporate-executives-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption U.S. Department of Justice 2015-05-27 2025-01-04 9 September 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250909145934/https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/nine-fifa-officials-and-five-corporate-executives-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and live Following the December 3, 2015 superseding indictment that revealed guilty pleas by Roger Huguet and Fabio Tordin, Imagina Media immediately suspended and terminated Gerard Romy (co-CEO), Huguet, and Tordin in December 2015.https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/florida-media-company-pleads-guilty-bribing-soccer-officials-spanish-parent-company Florida Media Company Pleads Guilty to Bribing Soccer Officials; Spanish Parent Company Enters into Non-Prosecution Agreement U.S. Department of Justice 2018-07-10 2025-01-04 10 July 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250710234733/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/florida-media-company-pleads-guilty-bribing-soccer-officials-spanish-parent-company live On July 10, 2018, US Imagina LLC pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy and was ordered to pay over $24 million in fines, forfeiture, and restitution.https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2018/07/11/mediapro-affiliate-us-doj-corruption-case-handed-24m-fine-investigations-ongoing/ MediaPro affiliate in US DoJ corruption case handed $24m fine. Investigations 'ongoing' Inside World Football 2018-07-11 2025-01-04 On March 18, 2020, Gerard Romy was indicted on 53 counts including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering. Arrests On the morning of 27 May 2015, seven FIFA officials were arrested just before the start of the 65th FIFA Congress.http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9866259/reports-fifa-officials-arrested Officials arrested in Switzerland ahead of FIFA meeting Sky Sports 9 June 2015 29 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150529234722/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9866259/reports-fifa-officials-arrested live Two days later Sepp Blatter comfortably defeated Prince Ali bin Hussein to remain as President of FIFA. David Gill threatened to resign his newly elected role as FIFA Vice-president and member of the FIFA Executive Committee.https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/29/fifa-to-vote-on-sepp-blatter-presidential-bid-amid-corruption-scandal-live Sepp Blatter re-elected as Fifa president after Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein concedes defeat 29 May 2015 The Guardian 4 June 2015 29 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150529083039/http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/29/fifa-to-vote-on-sepp-blatter-presidential-bid-amid-corruption-scandal-live live 41 arrests in total had been made with both organizations and individuals being arrested.More FIFA Officials Charged in Ongoing Corruption Case https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/more-fifa-officials-charged-in-ongoing-corruption-case Federal Bureau of Investigation en-us 6 August 2019 6 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190806144132/https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/more-fifa-officials-charged-in-ongoing-corruption-case live Within these arrests, 14 people have been convicted. Out of these 14, there are 12 individuals and 2 organisations. They were all charged with things like "racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies".Haynes Andrew Securitisation, Money Laundering and Fraud Journal of Money Laundering Control 1 2 148–153 10.1108/eb027131 February 1997 The investigations continued with the chance of more arrests remaining likely, on which US Attorney General Loretta LynchAttorney General: Loretta E. Lynch https://www.justice.gov/ag/bio/attorney-general-loretta-e-lynch www.justice.gov en 7 May 2015 6 August 2019 10 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190710133247/https://www.justice.gov/ag/bio/attorney-general-loretta-e-lynch live stated that the Department of Justice was aware that there are more corrupt officials and organizations, and expressed its commitment to catch all who were involved. May 2015 On 27 May 2015, during the FIFA annual meeting at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, authorities charged 14 officials, including nine current or former FIFA executives, including FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb. All faced extradition to the United States. On the same day, the Swiss attorney general's office said that other FIFA executives were being questioned on suspicion of "criminal mismanagement" and money laundering. June 2015 On 2 June 2015 a letter was published,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/02/fifa-jerome-valcke-under-pressure-10m-bribe Fifa's secretary general Jérôme Valcke under new pressure over $10m 'bribe' Owen Gibson The Guardian 2 June 2015 www.theguardian.com 9 May 2020 23 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200523082342/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/02/fifa-jerome-valcke-under-pressure-10m-bribe live claiming that Jérôme Valcke was party to a potential bribe paid to former FIFA executive Jack Warner in relation to votes for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Despite his win just four days previously, Sepp Blatter announced his resignation as FIFA President.https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president – as it happened 3 June 2015 The Guardian 4 June 2015 4 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150604035149/http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live live The following day, South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula denied the $10 million payment to Warner was a bribe. Later that day, the FBI unsealed the transcript of the allocution made by former FIFA member and head of CONCACAF, Chuck Blazer which he had made when he pleaded guilty in 2013 to various charges as part of an apparent plea bargain. In Blazer's partially-redacted allocution, he claimed that he "and others, while acting in our official capacities, agreed to participate in a scheme to defraud FIFA and CONCACAF of the right to honest services by taking undisclosed bribes" and that he had "agreed with others in or around 1992 to facilitate the acceptance of a bribe in conjunction with the selection of the host nation for the 1998 World Cup. I and others on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup".https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/04/sports/soccer/soccer-official-chuck-blazer-admitted-accepting-bribes-for-world-cup-votes.html Ex-FIFA Official Chuck Blazer Admitted Accepting Bribes for World Cup Votes Stephanie Clifford The New York Times 3 June 2015 9 May 2020 30 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190730091223/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/04/sports/soccer/soccer-official-chuck-blazer-admitted-accepting-bribes-for-world-cup-votes.html live On 6 June, Phaedra Almajid, who had been placed under the protective custody of the FBI, claimed that FIFA would be forced to strip Qatar from hosting the 2022 World Cup. On 9 June, Italian-Argentinian Alejandro Burzaco was arrested in Italy. The two remaining Argentinian businessmen indicted, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis, surrendered to a court in Buenos Aires on 18 June. September 2015 On 17 September 2015, FIFA stated that Jérôme Valcke had been put on leave and released from his duties until further notice.https://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2015/m=9/news=press-statement-on-jerome-valcke-2678445.html Press statement on Jérôme Valcke 17 September 2015 FIFA 15 December 2015 21 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151121160227/http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2015/m=9/news=press-statement-on-jerome-valcke-2678445.html dead The decision was made by the FIFA Emergency Committeehttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/24/fifa-jerome-valcke-emails-swiss-prosecutors Fifa hands over Jérôme Valcke's emails to Swiss prosecutors 24 September 2015 The Guardian 15 December 2015 10 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151210212708/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/24/fifa-jerome-valcke-emails-swiss-prosecutors live after a series of allegations implicated Valcke of selling World Cup tickets for above face value.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34286208 Fifa secretary Jerome Valcke suspended BBC Sport 18 September 2015 18 September 2015 17 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150917200335/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34286208 live On 25 September, criminal proceedings were started against Blatter by Swiss prosecutors on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation. Blatter denied any wrongdoing.http://www.espnfc.us/blog/fifa/243/post/2630853/fifa-timeline-blatter-and-platini-banned-more-arrested FIFA timeline: Blatter and Platini banned, more officials arrested No byline 3 December 2015 ESPN FC ESPN FC US Edition 3 December 2015 4 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151204223308/http://www.espnfc.us/blog/fifa/243/post/2630853/fifa-timeline-blatter-and-platini-banned-more-arrested live October 2015 On 8 October 2015, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, Secretary General Jerome Valcke and UEFA President Michel Platini were suspended for 80 days by FIFA's Ethics Committee.Peck Tom 26 October 2015 Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini suspended by Fifa from all football for 80 days https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/sepp-blatter-and-michel-platini-suspended-by-fifa-a6685951.html The Independent London, England 3 December 2015 8 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151208223609/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/sepp-blatter-and-michel-platini-suspended-by-fifa-a6685951.html live Blatter appealed the suspension but lost the appeal on 18 November 2015. November 2015 German police searched the headquarters of the German Football Association over allegations of illegal deals before the 2006 World Cup. The head of president of the German Football Association, Wolfgang Niersbach, resigned. Marco Polo del Nero of Brazil, president of the Brazilian football federation announced his resignation from FIFA Executive Committee on 26 November 2015. December 2015 On 3 December 2015, FIFA vice-presidents Alfredo Hawit and Juan Angel Napout were arrested on suspicion of bribery in the same Zurich hotel where seven FIFA officials had been arrested in May 2015.Ruiz Rebecca 3 December 2015 FIFA Corruption: Top Officials Arrested at Zurich Hotel https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/sports/fifa-scandal-arrests-in-switzerland.html The New York Times New York, USA 3 December 2015 4 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151204212742/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/sports/fifa-scandal-arrests-in-switzerland.html live Hours later, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed an additional 16 indictments for criminal schemes; as well, former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb pleaded guilty to money laundering, wire fraud and racketeering. On 21 December, the FIFA Ethics Committee banned both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years from all football-related activity organised by FIFA after being found guilty of a £1.3 million ($2 million) "disloyal payment" made to Platini in 2011. Blatter said he would appeal the verdict.Fifa: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini get eight-year bans https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35144652 21 December 2015 BBC Sport 21 December 2015 21 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151221091204/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35144652 live January 2016 On 9 January 2016, the FIFA Emergency Committee decided to dismiss Jérôme Valcke as FIFA Secretary General and to terminate his employment relationship.https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fifa-sack-jerome-valcke-general-7170167 FIFA sack Jerome Valcke as general secretary amid alleged involvement in World Cup ticketing scandal Curtis Ben 13 January 2016 Mirror 13 January 2016 16 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160116120701/http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fifa-sack-jerome-valcke-general-7170167 live February 2016 On 26 February 2016, an extraordinary FIFA Congress was held and elected UEFA Secretary General Gianni Infantino as the new president of FIFA while also passing a major reform package.Broden Sam 26 February 2016 Gianni Infantino To Lead FIFA Into New Era https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/27/sports/soccer/gianni-infantino-is-elected-fifa-president.html The New York Times 26 February 2016 26 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160226235017/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/27/sports/soccer/gianni-infantino-is-elected-fifa-president.html live Response to indictments FIFA Blatter's "resignation" thumb|Media in front of FIFA headquarters after Blatter's resignation On 29 May 2015, Sepp Blatter won re-election to the FIFA presidency at the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich amid growing criticism over his position. Four days later, however, he announced that he would continue as president only until a new election would be conducted at a 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congresshttps://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-to-resign-as-fifa-president.html Sepp Blatter to Resign as FIFA President The New York Times 2 June 2015 2 June 2015 2 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150602170748/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-to-resign-as-fifa-president.html live on 26 February 2016. Blatter said that he would not be a candidate for election at that time. Blatter maintained "I did not resign, I put myself and my office in the hands of the FIFA congress."https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33284185 Sepp Blatter: Fifa president says he did not resign 26 June 2015 BBC News 3 December 2015 18 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151118060542/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33284185 live Upon the decision of the FIFA Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee to provisionally ban Blatter, FIFA recognised Issa Hayatou as the interim president of FIFA in accordance with article 32 (6) of the FIFA Statutes. https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/acting-president/index.html Acting FIFA President Issa Hayatou FIFA 22 December 2015 "On 8 October 2015, given the decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee to provisionally ban Joseph S. Blatter from all football activities on a national and international level, Issa Hayatou assumed the Office of FIFA President on an interim basis, as the longest-serving vice-president on FIFA's Executive Committee - according to article 32 (6) of the FIFA Statutes." 1 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160101010331/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/acting-president/index.html dead Suspended World Cup bid On 10 June 2015, FIFA announced that they would be delaying the 2026 FIFA World Cup bidding process, amidst allegations surrounding bribery in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes. Secretary-general Valcke stated that "Due to the situation, I think it's nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being."https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33078284 Fifa World Cup 2026 bidding process delayed BBC Sport 10 June 2015 10 June 2015 10 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150610144834/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33078284 live Furthermore, FIFA announced the host selection for the 2026 World Cup would be postponed until 2020.2016-05-10 2026 World Cup host vote delayed to 2020 https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37469028/2026-world-cup-hosting-vote-postponed-three-years-2020 2022-11-20 ESPN.com en Convicted defendants According to the US Department of Justice web site, the following defendants previously pleaded guilty under seal and agreed to forfeit more than $40 million.https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/sixteen-additional-fifa-officials-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and-corruption The 16 New Defendants 3 December 2015 US Department of Justice 5 December 2015 4 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151204134026/http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/sixteen-additional-fifa-officials-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and-corruption live On 26 May 2015, Zorana Danis, the co-founder and owner of International Soccer Marketing Inc., a New Jersey–based sports marketing company, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging her with wire fraud conspiracy and filing false tax returns. As part of her plea, Danis agreed to forfeit $2 million. On 9 November 2015, Fabio Tordin, the former CEO of Traffic Sports USA Inc. and currently an executive with Media World LLC, a Miami-based sports marketing company, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of tax evasion. As part of his plea, Tordin agreed to forfeit more than $600,000. On 12 November 2015, Luis Bedoya, a member of the FIFA Executive Committee, a CONMEBOL vice president and the president of the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, the Colombian soccer federation, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. As part of his plea, Bedoya agreed to forfeit all funds on deposit in his Swiss bank account, among other funds. On 16 November 2015, Alejandro Burzaco, the former general manager and chairman of the board of Torneos y Competencias S.A., an Argentinian sports marketing company, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. As part of his plea, Burzaco agreed to forfeit more than $21.6 million.Journal Samuel RubenfeldWall Street 2017-06-15 Banker Pleads Guilty in FIFA Bribery Probe en-US The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/banker-pleads-guilty-in-fifa-bribery-probe-1497552309 2022-10-11 0099-9660 11 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221011114644/https://www.wsj.com/articles/banker-pleads-guilty-in-fifa-bribery-probe-1497552309 live On 17 November 2015, Roger Huguet, the CEO of Media World and its parent company, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with two counts of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. As part of his plea, Huguet agreed to forfeit more than $600,000. On 23 November 2015, Jeffrey Webb, a former FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, Caribbean Football Union executive committee member and Cayman Islands Football Association president, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money laundering conspiracy. As part of his plea, Webb agreed to forfeit more than $6.7 million. On 23 November 2015, Sergio Jadue, a vice president of CONMEBOL and, until last month, the president of the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Chile, the Chilean soccer federation, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. As part of his plea, Jadue agreed to forfeit all funds on deposit in his U.S. bank account, among other funds. On 25 November 2015, José Margulies, the controlling principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd, who served as an intermediary who facilitated illicit payments between sports marketing executives and soccer officials, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and two counts of money laundering conspiracy. As part of his plea, Margulies agreed to forfeit more than $9.2 million. On 10 July 2018, US Imagina LLC, a Mediapro subsidiary, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy. The company was sentenced to pay $5,279,000 in criminal proceeds forfeited, $12,883,320 in criminal fines, and $6,655,000 in total restitution payments to affected soccer federations.https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1067363/broadcaster-agrees-to-pay-24-million-after-admitting-bribing-football-officials-for-media-and-marketing-rights Broadcaster agree to pay $24 million after admitting bribing football officials for media and marketing rights Inside the Games 2018-07-11 2025-01-04 4 December 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251204040249/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1067363/broadcaster-agrees-to-pay-24-million-after-admitting-bribing-football-officials-for-media-and-marketing-rights live Governmental Australia – On 29 May 2015, the Australian Federal Police announced that it may investigate a $500,000 payment by Football Federation Australia (FFA) to Jack Warner, with the FFA stating that the payment was "mandatory" and part of their failed 2022 World Cup bid. Brazil – Senator and former Brazilian footballer Romário stated that "unfortunately, it wasn't our police that arrested them, but someone had to eventually arrest them one day". He has been an outspoken critic of the alleged corruption of FIFA.http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/29164956/the-latest-us-corruption-allegations-not-tied-to-fifa-vote THE LATEST: Warner to spend night in jail after arrest hawaiinewsnow.com 27 May 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150528032353/http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/29164956/the-latest-us-corruption-allegations-not-tied-to-fifa-vote 28 May 2015 Colombia – The Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, through diplomatic cables, requested access to the investigation files in order to determine if any Colombian nationals are linked to the irregularities of FIFA, and also offered to aid the investigations if requested by United States prosecutors.http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/futbol/escandalo-en-fifa-fiscalia-colombiana-quiere-saber-si-hay-colombianos-en-el-escandalo/15838116 Fiscalía colombiana pidió información sobre la investigación de Fifa 27 May 2015 ElTiempo.com 27 May 2015 es 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528021428/http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/futbol/escandalo-en-fifa-fiscalia-colombiana-quiere-saber-si-hay-colombianos-en-el-escandalo/15838116 live In recent times, Colombia was selected by the FIFA to host the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Costa Rica – The Attorney General of Costa Rica opened a money laundering probe on Eduardo Li, stating that "even though most of the events took place outside of Costa Rica, it is our responsibility to follow up on that and find out if any crimes were committed here".http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/27/fifa-scandal-costa-rica-opens-money-laundering-probe-of-eduardo-li FIFA scandal: Costa Rica opens money laundering probe of Eduardo Li 27 May 2015 TicoTimes.net 27 May 2015 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527183155/http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/27/fifa-scandal-costa-rica-opens-money-laundering-probe-of-eduardo-li live Germany – Justice Minister Heiko Maas requested a full investigation on FIFA and stated that "it is clear that FIFA is not above the law either and that the accusations must be investigated. I think every football fan has a right to know that corruption in football and in international football has no room".http://www.focus.de/sport/fussball/fifa-fifa-maas-fordert-umfassende-aufklaerung-des-skandals_id_4709377.html FIFA: Maas fordert umfassende Aufklärung des Skandals focus.de 27 May 2015 de 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528124618/http://www.focus.de/sport/fussball/fifa-fifa-maas-fordert-umfassende-aufklaerung-des-skandals_id_4709377.html live Paraguay – The Foreign Ministry of Paraguay announced that they received an extradition request from the United States for Nicolás Leoz, and that they will forward the request to the Supreme Court of Justice for a further review.http://www.federalnewsradio.com/614/3864517/THE-LATEST-Trinidad-issues-arrest-warrant-for-Jack-Warner THE LATEST: Former FIFA vice president Warner surrenders federalnewsradio.com 27 May 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150528011903/http://www.federalnewsradio.com/614/3864517/THE-LATEST-Trinidad-issues-arrest-warrant-for-Jack-Warner 28 May 2015 Also, the Senate approved on 11 June 2015, the repeal of a law granting immunity to the headquarters of CONMEBOL in order to gain access to the premises for investigation.http://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/congreso-aprueba-quitar-inmunidad-a-conmebol-1376182.html Congreso quita la inmunidad a la Conmebol ABC Color es 11 June 2015 12 June 2015 14 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150614013421/http://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/congreso-aprueba-quitar-inmunidad-a-conmebol-1376182.html live Russia – At the end of May 2015, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the arrest: "Without going into details about the charges that have been brought up, we point to the fact that this is another case of the illegal extraterritorial application of U.S. laws ... Once again, we urge Washington to stop trying to set itself up as a judge far outside its borders and to follow the generally accepted international legal procedures".https://sports.yahoo.com/news/russia-calls-fifa-probe-illegal-application-u-laws-163917653--sow.html Russia calls FIFA probe an 'illegal' application of U.S. laws 27 May 2015 Yahoo Sports 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528045625/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/russia-calls-fifa-probe-illegal-application-u-laws-163917653--sow.html live Russia's president Vladimir Putin publicly said he saw the corruption investigations as an attempt by the U.S. to oust Sepp Blatter from his post as punishment for continuing to support Russia as host for the 2018 World Cup.Russia cries foul: Fifa arrests 'a conspiracy' says Moscow https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32925637 4 June 2015 BBC News 28 May 2015 31 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150531054600/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32925637 liveDunbar Graham 13 November 2015 FIFA corruption probe clears Russia, Qatar as World Cup hosts https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/fifa-corruption-probe-clears-russia-qatar-as-world-cup-hosts/article21570123/ The Globe and Mail Toronto, Canada 3 December 2015 1 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151201231340/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/fifa-corruption-probe-clears-russia-qatar-as-world-cup-hosts/article21570123/ live Switzerland – Ueli Maurer, a member of the Swiss Federal Council, spoke at the opening of the FIFA Congress where he emphasised that Switzerland condemns any form of corruption. On 28 May, Maurer also said that FIFA is out of balance and in a need for action to restore its credibility. Calling for reform, he refused to scapegoat Blatter reminding some of his achievements for youth in football.http://www.cash.ch/news/alle/rss/bundesrat_ueli_maurer_ruft_an_fifakongress_zu_reformen_auf-3329267-448 Bundesrat Ueli Maurer ruft an FIFA-Kongress zu Reformen auf 28 May 2015 cash.ch (in German) 28 May 2015 29 August 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150829051459/http://www.cash.ch/news/alle/rss/bundesrat_ueli_maurer_ruft_an_fifakongress_zu_reformen_auf-3329267-448 live United Kingdom – The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom, John Whittingdale, stated that he fully supported The Football Association's position "that significant and wide-ranging reforms are urgently needed at the very top of FIFA, including a change in its leadership". Prime Minister David Cameron also backed calls for Blatter to quit as President of FIFA stating: "You cannot have accusations of corruption at this level and on this scale in this organisation and pretend that the person currently leading it is the right person to take it forward. That cannot be the case. Frankly, what we've seen is the ugly side of the beautiful game and he should go. And the sooner that happens the better – the faster that organisation can start to rebuild its credibility, which is going to be so important because so many people around the world want to see this game properly managed, properly looked after, so we can all enjoy the World Cups of the future."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32913653 Fifa: David Cameron backs calls for Sepp Blatter to quit BBC News 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528090706/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32913653 live Fifa's Sepp Blatter should go, says David Cameron https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32931356 31 May 2015 BBC News 29 May 2015 30 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150530153354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32931356 live Continental football organizations The AFC (Asia) stated that it is "against any form of corruption in football and fully supports any actions taken by the independent FIFA Ethics Committee where wrongdoing may have occurred, whether such actions affect Asian officials or otherwise." Moreover, it opposed postponing the FIFA Congress and reiterated its support for Blatter.http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-opposes-any-move-to-delay-fifa-elections AFC opposes any move to delay FIFA elections – AFC the-afc.com 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528013043/http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-opposes-any-move-to-delay-fifa-elections live CONCACAF (North America, Central America and Caribbean) stated that it "is deeply concerned by today's developments, in the arrest of several international football officials including those belonging to our Confederation. The Confederation will continue to cooperate with the authorities to its fullest capacity. At present, CONCACAF is not in a position to comment further on the specific allegations, which have been referred to the appropriate legal counsel through the pertinent channels. CONCACAF continues to operate in the ordinary course of business, hosting all of its upcoming tournaments in a successful and timely manner, including the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup."concacaf.com https://web.archive.org/web/20150530225632/http://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-statement-6 30 May 2015 CONCACAF Statement CONMEBOL (South America) – The South American Football Confederation issued a resolution to "repudiate all acts of corruption, and unreservedly support the investigations initiated toward FIFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and other organizations regarding alleged wrongdoing," and "will agree to collaborate openly and emphatically with such investigations."http://www.conmebol.com/en/05272015-1406/press-release-general-public Press release to the general public conmebol.com 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528010925/http://www.conmebol.com/en/05272015-1406/press-release-general-public live UEFA (Europe) stated: "[t]hese events show, once again, that corruption is deeply rooted in FIFA's culture. There is a need for the whole of FIFA to be 'rebooted' and for a real reform to be carried out."http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2252026.html UEFA shows this FIFA the red card 27 May 2015 UEFA 28 May 2015 27 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527232136/http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2252026.html live UEFA president Michel Platini explicitly demanded Blatter to step down before his re-election.https://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/28/football/fifa-congress-uefa-blatter/ FIFA President Sepp Blatter: Punish the 'few' offenders – CNN Eliott C. McLaughlin 28 May 2015 CNN 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528200751/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/28/football/fifa-congress-uefa-blatter/ live National football federations Costa Rica – Rodolfo Villalobos, the next in line for the presidency of the Costa Rican Football Federation, and with the backing of its other board members, announced that he would not vote for Blatter as a result of the ongoing revelations.http://www.nacion.com/deportes/futbol-costa-rica/Costa-Rica-Joseph-Blatter-FIFA_0_1490251048.html Costa Rica no votará por Joseph Blatter en elecciones de FIFA Costa Rica will not vote for Joseph Blatter during FIFA elections es La Nación 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528233650/http://www.nacion.com/deportes/futbol-costa-rica/Costa-Rica-Joseph-Blatter-FIFA_0_1490251048.html live England – David Gill, as the newly elected British FIFA Vice-president and FIFA Executive Committee board member, threatened to resign his role if Sepp Blatter was re-elected as FIFA President for a fifth term in protest at his leadership following the corruption scandal. Blatter was re-elected, and Gill immediately rejected his position in protest, saying "I simply do not see how there will be change for the good of world football while Mr Blatter remains in post."David Gill confirms he will not take up FIFA executive committee post http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9869548/david-gill-confirms-he-will-not-take-up-post-on-fifa-executive-committee 30 May 2015 Sky Sports 30 May 2015 30 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150530164121/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9869548/david-gill-confirms-he-will-not-take-up-post-on-fifa-executive-committee live After Blatter resigned on 2 June 2015, Gill announced that he would "reconsider [his] position", since he had "yet to confirm formally [his] resignation", and followed this up by saying "I am more than willing to play my part in helping to bring about a positive future for FIFA and to work with the many people within the organisation who are only committed to developing and promoting the game around the world."http://www.thefa.com/news/thefa/2015/jun/david-gill-020615 FA Vice Chairman David Gill responds to news of Sepp Blatter's resignation – About Football Association – The FA The Football Association 3 June 2015 15 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200915185832/https://www.thefa.com/news/2015/jun/02/david-gill-020615 live Guinea-Bissau – Manuel Nascimento Lopes, the president of the Football Federation of Guinea-Bissau, said that "I'm a Christian and this is blasphemy" in response to people blaming Blatter for the actions of other people. Lopes also said that "It's a state conspiracy. People are always trying to knock Blatter. Africa will vote for Mr. Blatter and I will follow that. I agree at some point there has to be change but let Blatter finish his mandate and see what he does."https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11635654/Fifa-corruption-live.html Fifa corruption scandal live: Sepp Blatter urged to resign The Daily Telegraph 27 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528184010/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11635654/Fifa-corruption-live.html dead Ireland – The Football Association of Ireland's chief executive John Delaney, speaking on national radio after Blatter's resignation, recalled: "In 2009, when Blatter insulted Ireland in the aftermath of the Thierry Henry handball incident I called him an embarrassment to FIFA and to himself. He called me over about that, across the table like I am talking to you, with one or two expletives. That was in a room. He said, 'No-one speaks to me like that', and I said, 'well I do' and that was that."http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/john-delaney-sepp-blatter-stared-at-my-partner-emma-and-said-i-approve-i-told-him-to-move-on-31278411.html John Delaney: Sepp Blatter stared at my partner Emma and said 'I approve' – I told him to move on Irish Independent 4 June 2015 4 June 2015 5 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150605161222/http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/john-delaney-sepp-blatter-stared-at-my-partner-emma-and-said-i-approve-i-told-him-to-move-on-31278411.html live In 2009, Delaney said of the handball incident, "It's not about money. This is about sporting integrity." In June 2015, Delaney confirmed that FIFA gave the FAI a "loan" of €5 million which was in effect a payment not to proceed with legal action over the handball decision and consequent elimination from the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The loan was written off in 2014.http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/0604/705872-delaney-confirm-fifa-payment-to-fai/ FIFA gave FAI €5m 'loan' to stop legal action over Thierry Henry handball RTÉ.ie 4 June 2015 That was a Thursday and on Monday the agreement was all signed and all done. It's a very good agreement for the FAI and a very legitimate agreement for the FAI. 5 June 2015 14 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150714182828/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/0604/705872-delaney-confirm-fifa-payment-to-fai/ live South Africa – Danny Jordaan, the head of the South African Football Association, admitted to paying $10 million to a football body led by Jack Warner in 2008, but denied that it was a bribe for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.Fifa crisis: South Africa 'admits $10m football payout' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-32952078 1 June 2015 BBC News 31 May 2015 31 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150531211612/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-32952078 live United States – The North American Soccer League Board of Governors suspended chairman Aaron Davidson and business relations with Traffic Sports. Carolina RailHawks, a team owned by Traffic Sports, was allowed to "continue to operate in the ordinary course of business".NASL STATEMENT ON U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION http://www.nasl.com/news/2015/05/27/nasl-statement-on-us-department-of-justice-investigation NASL.com 28 May 2015 27 May 2015 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528183432/http://www.nasl.com/news/2015/05/27/nasl-statement-on-us-department-of-justice-investigation live FIFA sponsors In October 2015, four major FIFA sponsors, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Visa and Budweiser, called for Blatter to stand down immediately as FIFA president.Coca-Cola, McDonald's demand Blatter steps down http://www.football365.com/news/coca-cola-mcdonalds-demand-blatter-steps-down Football365 3 October 2015 5 October 2015 5 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151005235124/http://www.football365.com/news/coca-cola-mcdonalds-demand-blatter-steps-down live Corporate consequences The FIFA corruption scandal had significant long-term impacts on Mediapro beyond the immediate legal penalties. The scandal contributed to the company's failed €814 million contract with French Ligue 1 in 2020, forcing Mediapro to pay €100 million in penalties and resulting in the shutdown of its Téléfoot channel.https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2021/02/15/mediapro-returns-concacaf-fold-international-sales-deal/ Mediapro returns to Concacaf fold with international sales deal Inside World Football 2021-02-15 2025-01-04 4 December 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251204035537/https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2021/02/15/mediapro-returns-concacaf-fold-international-sales-deal/ live Parent company Imagina Media implemented enhanced compliance programs, terminated all implicated executives, and hired new management for US operations following the 2018 guilty plea. As of 2024, Gerard Romy remains wanted as a fugitive by US authorities.http://keirradnedge.com/2020/11/19/mediapro-formally-owns-up/ Mediapro formally owns up to bribing FIFA officials for World Cup TV rights KeirRadnedge.com 2020-11-19 2025-01-04 13 November 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251113075816/https://keirradnedge.com/2020/11/19/mediapro-formally-owns-up/ live Interpol On 12 June 2015, an international law enforcement agency Interpol announced it was suspending a 20 million euro donation by FIFA to fund an anti-gambling and match-fixing program. Four million euros were spent in the first two years on prevention and education and another 1.5 million euros was set to be spent in the remaining eight years.http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-fifa-interpol-idUKKBN0OS0UL20150612 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222225615/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-fifa-interpol-idUKKBN0OS0UL20150612 dead 22 December 2015 FIFA dismayed as Interpol suspends 20 million euro 'Integrity' pact Reuters 12 June 2015 An Interpol spokesman said, "The agreement with FIFA includes a clause which states that 'the Funding Party declares notably that its activities are compatible with the principles, aims and activities of Interpol'. All external partners, whether public or private, must share the fundamental values and principles of the organisation, as well as the wider law enforcement community."http://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News/2015/N2015-080 INTERPOL suspends agreement with FIFA 12 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150615002030/http://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News/2015/N2015-080 15 June 2015 dead FIFA said it was disappointed by the decision.https://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/12/football/interpol-fifa-partnership/index.html FIFA Tom Sweetman CNN 12 June 2015 11 July 2020 11 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711112347/https://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/12/football/interpol-fifa-partnership/index.html live The donation for the 10-year Integrity in Sport program was originally accepted in 2011 by former Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble.https://www.politico.eu/article/fifa-funded-interpol-policing/ How Interpol got into bed with FIFA Jake Wallis Simons 3 June 2015 POLITICO 11 July 2020 11 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711102536/https://www.politico.eu/article/fifa-funded-interpol-policing/ live See also 2014 protests in Brazil: pointing and partially caused by perceived injustices around the 2014 FIFA World Cup 2015 Greek football scandal 2018 FIFA World Cup controversies ChangeFIFA International Sport and Leisure JTA Supermarkets United Passions El Presidente References 30em External links United States of America v. Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Jack Warner, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel, Jose Maria Marin, Nicolas Leoz, Alejandro Burzaco, Aaron Davidson, Hugo Jinkis, Mariano Jinkis, and Jose Margulies, aka Jose Lazaro, F.#2015R00747 (U.S. District Court – Brooklyn Office May 20, 2015) The FIFA Investigation, Explained collapsed Category:FIFA controversies Category:2015 in association football Category:2015 in Switzerland Category:2015 scandals Category:2018 FIFA World Cup Category:2022 FIFA World Cup Category:2022 FIFA World Cup controversies Category:21st-century crimes in North America Category:Corporate scandals Category:Corruption in Switzerland corruption case Category:Scandals in Switzerland Category:Sepp Blatter Category:May 2015 in Switzerland