FBI investigates FIFA World Cups hosted in South Africa and Brazil
The Attorney-General of the United States, Loretta Lynch
The FBI is investigating a kickback scam in connection with the choice of South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014) as host countries for the FIFA World Soccer Cup. The Attorney-General of the United States, Loretta Lynch, gave no details about Brazil's case, but said that investigations suggest that bribery and kickbacks have taken place in negotiations for large-scale competitions in the past 24 years, with payments exceeding $150 million.
“Around 2004, bidding began for the opportunity to host the 2010 World Cup, which was ultimately awarded to South Africa – the first time the tournament would be held on the African continent. But even for this historic event, FIFA executives and others corrupted the process by using bribes to influence the hosting decision,” Lynch said.
About the 2010 World Cup, the US Department of Justice said it is investigating 25 FIFA officials and executives and a member of the event's organizing committee. Other people and organizations from other countries that took part in the negotiations of the 2010 and other events are also being investigated.
In more aggressive tone, Richard Weber, Chief of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), described the World Cup as “fraud” and said FIFA would get a “red card.”
Nine FIFA officers or former officers and five partners of the soccer top body were indicted by the United States Department of Justice on charges of conspiracy and racketeering dating back to 1991.
José Maria Marin
Among the charged defendants are Jack Warner, former president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); two FIFA vice-presidents, Eugenio Figueredo (from Uruguay) and Jeffrey Webb (Cayman Islands); as well as Nicolás Leoz, from Paraguay, former president of the Confederation of South America (CONMEBOL).
The other indicted officers are José Maria Marín (Brazil), Eduardo Li (Costa Rica), Julio Rocha (Nicaragua), Rafael Esquivel (Venezuela), and Costas Takkas (Cayman Islands).
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: FBI investigates FIFA World Cups hosted in South Africa and Brazil
