The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged FIFA officials and executives for crimes, including fraud, conspiracy and racketeering offences.
This unprecedented move by the DOJ has sent shockwaves through world football. Until now, FIFA and world football have operated amid almost constant allegations of corruption, ethical concerns and transparency issues. Now the United States has sent a stern message to all executives that corruption and fraud will not be tolerated in connection with tournaments on US soil.
World Cup winning bids in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022) have come under immense scrutiny in recent times as well as FIFA dealings with South Africa in 2010 and even Australia’s failed bid for the 2022 tournament. Here are how some of the biggest stakeholders reacted to the stunning arrests.
Football
FIFA – Statement from Sepp Blatter is characteristically defiant about claims leveled at the organisation he has run for so many years1 Notably, FIFA has provisionally suspended 11 of the accused from all football related activities after the arrests.2
UEFA – UEFA asked for the FIFA Presidency vote to be postponed. ’There is a need for the whole of FIFA to be ‘rebooted’ and for a real reform to be carried out.’ They voted en masse for Blatter’s opponent.3
Countries
Switzerland – ‘The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 Football World Cups. In the course of these proceedings, electronic data and documents were seized at FIFA’s head office in Zurich.’4
Russia – ‘We point to the fact that this is another case of the illegal extraterritorial application of U.S. laws 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.’ 5
Costa Rica – Eduardo Li, Costa Rican Football Federation President and FIFA executive committee member was arrested by Swiss authorities. ‘Costa Rica has now opened an inquiry into Li’s assets.’ 6
Trinidad – ‘Ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner has had an arrest warrant issued for him in his home country in relation to today’s corruption scandal.’7 Trinidad was the recipient of a generous $500,000 payment from Football Federation Australia under the guise of rebuilding a stadium in Trinidad. The stadium happened to be personally owned by Jack Warner.8
Sponsors
Adidas – ‘The Adidas Group is fully committed to creating a culture that promotes the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we expect the same from our partners. Following today’s news, we can therefore only encourage FIFA to continue to establish and follow transparent compliance standards in everything they do. Adidas is the world’s leading football brand and we will continue to support football on all levels.’9
McDonalds – ‘McDonalds takes matters of ethics and corruption very seriously and the news from the U.S. Department of Justice is extremely concerning.’10
What is next?
FIFA held the vote for the Presidency a day after the arrests on 29 May 2015 controversially reelecting the incumbent Sep Blatter. Many outside the FIFA fiefdom regard this as brazen and audacious in the face of a worldwide media storm connecting corruption to the highest offices in world football.
More backlash is expected from sponsors and non-football bodies who look to enact change during a watershed moment for tackling corruption and bribery in the sport.
The arrested Executives and officials face extradition to the United States where they will address the charges made against them.
In dramatic unfolding developments as we go to press, FIFA President of 17 years Sep Blatter resigned amid reports that the investigation is pointing to him. This story will run and run – stay tuned.
Related post
1 http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2015/m=5/news=statement-by-fifa-president-blatter-2609360.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news_top
2 http://news.yahoo.com/soccer-world-shocked-fifa-raids-093546970–spt.html
3 http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2252026.html
4 https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-57391.html
5 http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/05/27/sports/soccer/27reuters-soccer-fifa-arrests-russia-laws.html?_r=0
6 http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/27/fifa-scandal-costa-rica-opens-money-laundering-probe-of-eduardo-li
7 http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2015/5/27/8672845/trinidad-arrest-warrant-usa-extradition-jack-warner-fifa-corruption-investigation
8http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/fifa-corruption-arrests-australias-500000-payment-to-jack-warner-under-scrutiny-20150528-ghbcdr.html
9 http://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-statement-on-arrest-of-fifa-officials-2015-5#ixzz3bMBRg14b
10 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-27/fifa-sponsors-adidas-coke-seen-looking-at-ties-after-indictment
Image credit: Asif Abdhullah
Categories:
HOMESports & Sponsorship
Posted on: 3 June 2015
