05-27-2015, 11:29 AM
HUGE CORRUPTION SCANDAL PLAGUES SOCCER ORGANIZATION
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) looks to be in deep shit.
![[Image: fifaposters.jpg]](http://www.pilgrimways.com/window/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/fifaposters.jpg)
Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide and generates billions of dollars in revenue. While its popularity is exceeded by American football and basketball in the U.S., the television money spent in regards to the World Cup is highest in the U.S.
There has long been rumor of massive corruption, bribes and other illegal financial dealings within the FIFA leadership. A U.S. attorney (Michael Garcia) was appointed to investigate the global organization and released an incriminating 350-page report after investigating for three years. Nothing happened because it's alleged that FIFA buried the report and declared itself "cleared".
The new U.S. Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, was also involved in legal proceedings against FIFA in New York before she was appointed AG.
Yesterday, 12 top FIFA executives were were surprised and arrested by the FBI in Switzerland where they were set to attend a conference. They are suspected of garnering $100 million USD in bribes over the years. One of their suspicious dealings reportedly concerns the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Snip:
The United States brought charges against the suspects because the plots were allegedly hatched on American soil. "According to U.S. request, these crimes were agreed and prepared in the U.S., and payments were carried out via U.S. banks," the Swiss Office of Justice said.
Prosecutors also say they think the broad reach of U.S. tax and banking regulations aid their ability to bring the charges.
Story: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/fif...index.html
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) looks to be in deep shit.
Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide and generates billions of dollars in revenue. While its popularity is exceeded by American football and basketball in the U.S., the television money spent in regards to the World Cup is highest in the U.S.
There has long been rumor of massive corruption, bribes and other illegal financial dealings within the FIFA leadership. A U.S. attorney (Michael Garcia) was appointed to investigate the global organization and released an incriminating 350-page report after investigating for three years. Nothing happened because it's alleged that FIFA buried the report and declared itself "cleared".
The new U.S. Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, was also involved in legal proceedings against FIFA in New York before she was appointed AG.
Yesterday, 12 top FIFA executives were were surprised and arrested by the FBI in Switzerland where they were set to attend a conference. They are suspected of garnering $100 million USD in bribes over the years. One of their suspicious dealings reportedly concerns the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Snip:
The United States brought charges against the suspects because the plots were allegedly hatched on American soil. "According to U.S. request, these crimes were agreed and prepared in the U.S., and payments were carried out via U.S. banks," the Swiss Office of Justice said.
Prosecutors also say they think the broad reach of U.S. tax and banking regulations aid their ability to bring the charges.
Story: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/fif...index.html