FIFA Officials Held Over Alleged Corruption; World Cups Also Probed

[R3P0]

Many arrests made in USA and Switzerland in joint probe regarding FIFA tournaments in 2010 and 2014... Russian Tournament in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 are now under investigation.

Soccer's governing body FIFA was rocked by dual corruption probes Wednesday that included the arrest of one of its vice presidents and allegations of $150 million in bribes and kickbacks.

Seven high-ranking international soccer officials were arrested in Switzerland as part of a U.S. investigation. Hours later, FIFA's headquarters were raided as part of a parallel case into alleged bribes relating to the awarding of two World Cup tournaments.

Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner — the current and former presidents of the Miami-based CONCACAF continental governing body — were among 14 people charged with racketeering and bribery as part of a "24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer," the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Serving FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo, who runs the Uruguayan soccer federation, was also detained. Other defendants include sports marketing executives.

Authorities also revealed that Charles "Chuck" Blazer, the former U.S. representative on FIFA's executive committee, has pled guilty to 10 counts including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and income tax evasion.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the U.S. indictment alleged "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption that "spans at least two generations of soccer officials who ... abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks."

Meanwhile, the Swiss attorney general's office announced Wednesday that it had launched a criminal investigation into "irregularities" and "unjust enrichment" linked to the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Investigators seized documents at FIFA's Zurich headquarters.

Earlier this month, ESPN quoted a former media consultant for Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid as saying she was in the room as Qatari officials offered $1.5. million each to two members of the Executive Committee for their votes.

In 2010, The Sunday Times of London published video of an Executive Committee member accepting what he thought were bribes from a reporter acting undercover.

Last year, The Sunday Times reported on millions of secret FIFA documents that it alleged proved that Mohammed bin Hammam, a Qatari former member of the Executive Committee, bribed FIFA officials to the tune of $5 million in return for their support for Qatar's bid. FIFA's redacted version of Garcia's report cleared Qatar of all wrongdoing.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/f...probed-n365101

[David LFC]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Many arrests made in USA and Switzerland in joint probe regarding FIFA tournaments in 2010 and 2014... Russian Tournament in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 are now under investigation.

Let's hope that means Qatar lose the WC in 22 and it goes elsewhere.

Blatter needs to step down and for someone new with fresh ideas to come in.

[tob]

We have to see change at FIFA its embarrassing now.

[fatediesel]

The World Cup and Olympics need to stop being held at locations where they need to spend billions on facilities that aren't needed. Already some of the arenas that were built in Brazil for last year's World Cup are going unused and into disrepair, and the same things are happening in China and Russia from the 2008 and 2014 Olympics. They need to largely stick to nations that already have arenas and lodging already in place and expenses would be fairly minimal.

[Naiera]

They should all be PROBED where the sun don't shine.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

The World Cup and Olympics need to stop being held at locations where they need to spend billions on facilities that aren't needed. Already some of the arenas that were built in Brazil for last year's World Cup are going unused and into disrepair, and the same things are happening in China and Russia from the 2008 and 2014 Olympics. They need to largely stick to nations that already have arenas and lodging already in place and expenses would be fairly minimal.

So basically you're saying Western Europe and North America.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

So basically you're saying Western Europe and North America.

South Korea and Japan have the facilities from the 2002 World Cup, and if Russia maintains their 2018 facilities (which so far hasn't been the case with the 2014 Olympic facilities) then they could host in the future. FIFA could also lessen their standards somewhat to make Australia an option without incurring tremendous debt.

[tob]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

The World Cup and Olympics need to stop being held at locations where they need to spend billions on facilities that aren't needed. Already some of the arenas that were built in Brazil for last year's World Cup are going unused and into disrepair, and the same things are happening in China and Russia from the 2008 and 2014 Olympics. They need to largely stick to nations that already have arenas and lodging already in place and expenses would be fairly minimal.

I agree but we need change at FIFA first for the future of the game but that can't happen until Sepp Blatter resigns.

[R3P0]

FIFA says no revote for 2018 or 2022 World Cup, Swiss Prosecutors open official investigation into FIFA

Zurich — Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings into FIFA's awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, only hours after seven soccer officials were arrested Wednesday pending extradition to the U.S. in a separate probe of "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption.

FIFA, meanwhile, said Friday's presidential election would go ahead as planned with Sepp Blatter going for a fifth term. Blatter was not named in either investigation.

FIFA also ruled out a revote of the World Cups won by Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

6/7 arrested refuse extradition to US

The Swiss justice ministry said six of the seven officials arrested oppose extradition to the United States, adding that U.S. authorities now have 40 days to submit the formal extradition request.

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/spo...aids/27999521/

[rdodolak]

No surprise there when it comes to Qatari officials.

Bribes are a part of everyday life, and considered normal business practice, over in the middle east.

[Josh5890]

I can understand if Russia keeps their tournament since it is three years away and it would be hard to get someone else to take it but Qatar seriously needs to lose their's asap. Hopefully Blatter goes on Friday with the vote

[Show spoiler]not holding my breath though

[R3P0]

You would think FIFA would want to do the right thing after all this bad press. If I were that guy with the vote coming up for his term and all this bad happened under me, id be looking to distance myself from the corruption and call for an immediate revote to the 2022 games.

[R3P0]

and somehow Blatter wins really... just wow

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by R3P0

and somehow Blatter wins really... just wow

This is so disappointing. The real losers here are fans of soccer across the globe.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

This is so disappointing. The real losers here are fans of soccer across the globe.

The guy running against him obviously made a substantial dent in the first vote as Blatter did not have the 2/3 majority to win. No Idea why he dropped out.

[David LFC]

Blatter resigns!!!!

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by David LFC

Blatter resigns!!!!

Good riddance to bad rubbish, surprised he went to all the trouble of that vote now.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Good riddance to bad rubbish, surprised he went to all the trouble of that vote now.

The guys an ass he wanted to be an ass on his way out.

[R3P0]

FIFA is now threatening to take away the world cups in Russia and Qatar

Domenico Scala told SonntagsZeitung that FIFA the two countries could lose the hosting rights should evidence emerge of bribery in the bidding process.

"If evidence should emerge that the awards to Qatar and Russia only came about thanks to bought votes, then the awards could be invalidated," Scala said in an interview published on Sunday. "This evidence has not yet been brought forth."

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/fi...uld-be-n371201