Jonathan Fairfield Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicog Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 "• US officials say president Sepp Blatter 'not yet cleared'" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Fairfield Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption The Defendants Include Two Current FIFA Vice Presidents and the Current and Former Presidents of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); Seven Defendants Arrested Overseas; Guilty Pleas for Four Individual Defendants and Two Corporate Defendants Also Unsealed A 47-count indictment was unsealed early this morning in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants’ participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer. The guilty pleas of four individual defendants and two corporate defendants were also unsealed today. The defendants charged in the indictment include high-ranking officials of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization responsible for the regulation and promotion of soccer worldwide, as well as leading officials of other soccer governing bodies that operate under the FIFA umbrella. Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner – the current and former presidents of CONCACAF, the continental confederation under FIFA headquartered in the United States – are among the soccer officials charged with racketeering and bribery offenses. The defendants also include U.S. and South American sports marketing executives who are alleged to have systematically paid and agreed to pay well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments. The charges were announced by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie of the Eastern District of New York, Director James B. Comey of the FBI, Assistant Director in Charge Diego W. Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Chief Richard Weber of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez of the IRS-CI’s Los Angeles Field Office. Also earlier this morning, Swiss authorities in Zurich arrested seven of the defendants charged in the indictment, the defendants Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and José Maria Marin, at the request of the United States. Also this morning, a search warrant is being executed at CONCACAF headquarters in Miami, Florida. The guilty pleas of the four individual and two corporate defendants that were also unsealed today include the guilty pleas of Charles Blazer, the long-serving former general secretary of CONCACAF and former U.S. representative on the FIFA executive committee; José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, a multinational sports marketing conglomerate headquartered in Brazil; and two of Hawilla’s companies, Traffic Sports International Inc. and Traffic Sports USA Inc., which is based in Florida. “The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” said Attorney General Lynch. “It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks. And it has profoundly harmed a multitude of victims, from the youth leagues and developing countries that should benefit from the revenue generated by the commercial rights these organizations hold, to the fans at home and throughout the world whose support for the game makes those rights valuable. Today’s action makes clear that this Department of Justice intends to end any such corrupt practices, to root out misconduct, and to bring wrongdoers to justice – and we look forward to continuing to work with other countries in this effort.” Attorney General Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the authorities of the government of Switzerland, as well as several other international partners, for their outstanding assistance in this investigation. “Today’s announcement should send a message that enough is enough,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Currie. “After decades of what the indictment alleges to be brazen corruption, organized international soccer needs a new start – a new chance for its governing institutions to provide honest oversight and support of a sport that is beloved across the world, increasingly so here in the United States. Let me be clear: this indictment is not the final chapter in our investigation.” Read more: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nine-fifa-officials-and-five-corporate-executives-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Fairfield Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil B Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) Presume some people have too much invested in the election. Edited May 27, 2015 by Basil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 It's about time Blatt left anyway ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 "• US officials say president Sepp Blatter 'not yet cleared'" oh good , I prey to god they charge him ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryfrompattaya Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Bet of them will make a plea bargain and give details of higher up. The fake sport has to be close down at once poor people bet on fake and fixed games The sport of football or as Americans say Soccer is like American Wresting Wake up and ban the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I hope if any Fifa representatives are found to have materially effected the decision to award the 2022 world cup to Qatar they are charged with culpable homicide of the 62 migrant workers per fixture who died building the stadiums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfly94 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I imagine the Olympic committee will be crapping itself at this news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gulfsailor Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 " US officials say president Sepp Blatter 'not yet cleared'" oh good , I prey to god they charge him ..... One word; RICO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALLSEEINGEYE Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Why was this the result of a 3 year FBI investigation? The FBI is from the USA and usually only deals with federal crimes within the US with the exception of acts of international terrorism (or so I thought). I would have thought this would more likely have been cracked by Scotland yard or some other European crime fighting entity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F430murci Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Why was this the result of a 3 year FBI investigation? The FBI is from the USA and usually only deals with federal crimes within the US with the exception of acts of international terrorism (or so I thought). I would have thought this would more likely have been cracked by Scotland yard or some other European crime fighting entity. Perhaps because no one else had the gumption or the balls to do what needed to be done and FIFA screwed itselt as outlined in the following article: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/fifa-corruption-investigation-why/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Why was this the result of a 3 year FBI investigation? The FBI is from the USA and usually only deals with federal crimes within the US with the exception of acts of international terrorism (or so I thought). I would have thought this would more likely have been cracked by Scotland yard or some other European crime fighting entity. I believe this has been posted, but you might want to look at this link: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/fifa-corruption-investigation-why/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nev Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Hmmm - maybe now, as it is the 40th anniversary tomorrow of Leeds Utd getting conned out of a European cup against Bayern Munich cos of a dodgy ref, they might investigate that? Hmmm perhaps not What has FIFA got to do with the European cup ?, European cup comes under uefa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsetBkk Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I imagine the Olympic committee will be crapping itself at this news. Just what I was thinking. Come on FBI ! There are bigger fish to fry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryfrompattaya Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Why was this the result of a 3 year FBI investigation? The FBI is from the USA and usually only deals with federal crimes within the US with the exception of acts of international terrorism (or so I thought). I would have thought this would more likely have been cracked by Scotland yard or some other European crime fighting entity. I believe this has been posted, but you might want to look at this link: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/fifa-corruption-investigation-why/index.ht Sport Betting has to honest and you known who controls betting in the world. Hint not the Mafia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicog Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 They've also raided CONCACAF's offices in the US, and the Swiss are investigating the bids for 2018 and 2022.Get in there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydeco Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 " US officials say president Sepp Blatter 'not yet cleared'" oh good , I prey to god they charge him ..... One word; RICO If FIFA gets hit with RICO, it'll close down the entire operation. The Feds will grab every penny they have and keep it for themselves until FIFA proves they received it lawfully. RICO is the doomsday machine, if they use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingalfred Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Gotta love how US law wants to extend its tentacles outside Uncle Sams land. Extradite is its name.Whatever the rights or wrongs we dont need US law in European countries. Deal with your own corruption especially corporate control of the country through Washington politics, or perhaps thats all "legal" now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbalEd Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Glade this vipers nest is finally being tackled... They make Thai politicians look like saints. Only 6??? Wonder if any Tabloid has pictures of Sepp sneaking out the back door??? There'll be many more arrested as soon as the first set of jailbirds start singing. It's every man for himself now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicog Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Gotta love how US law wants to extend its tentacles outside Uncle Sams land. Extradite is its name.Whatever the rights or wrongs we dont need US law in European countries. Deal with your own corruption especially corporate control of the country through Washington politics, or perhaps thats all "legal" now! They are being arrested for crimes committed in the US if you actually bother to read past the headlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathstardan Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) That's fighting talk by UEFA. The UEFA Executive Committee met today in Warsaw and issued the following statement: Today's events are a disaster for FIFA and tarnish the image of football as a whole. UEFA is deeply shocked and saddened by them. Today's events are a disaster for FIFA and tarnish the image of football as a whole. These 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. The upcoming FIFA Congress risks to turn into a farce and therefore the European associations will have to consider carefully if they should even attend this Congress and caution a system, which, if it is not stopped, will ultimately kill football. The UEFA member associations are meeting tomorrow ahead of the FIFA Congress. At that point, the European associations will decide on what further steps need to be taken to protect the game of football. In the meantime, the members of the UEFA Executive Committee are convinced that there is a strong need for a change to the leadership of this FIFA and strongly believe that the FIFA Congress should be postponed, with new FIFA presidential elections to be organised within the next six months. http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2252026.html Edited May 27, 2015 by deathstardan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Credo Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Gotta love how US law wants to extend its tentacles outside Uncle Sams land. Extradite is its name.Whatever the rights or wrongs we dont need US law in European countries. Deal with your own corruption especially corporate control of the country through Washington politics, or perhaps thats all "legal" now! They are being arrested for crimes committed in the US if you actually bother to read past the headlines. It's his typical anti-American trolling. As Chicog said, they were arrested in Switzerland by Swiss police for crimes committed in the US (and probably in other countries as well). The Swiss do not have to extradite anyone they don't want to extradite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keemapoot Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Gotta love how US law wants to extend its tentacles outside Uncle Sams land. Extradite is its name.Whatever the rights or wrongs we dont need US law in European countries. Deal with your own corruption especially corporate control of the country through Washington politics, or perhaps thats all "legal" now! They are being arrested for crimes committed in the US if you actually bother to read past the headlines. It's his typical anti-American trolling. As Chicog said, they were arrested in Switzerland by Swiss police for crimes committed in the US (and probably in other countries as well). The Swiss do not have to extradite anyone they don't want to extradite. There were only 3 ways to deal with this globally important, yet morally bankrupt organization: 1. sponsor revolt (didn't happen), 2. fan revolt (no organized power), or 3. Judicial action (US judicial action is the most powerful in the world (both in global impact and in legal precedent and procedure); and yes, clearly only crimes which fall under US federal law jurisdiction can be prosecuted, so this tiresome bleating that America is "extending its tentacles" outside the US is grossly uniformed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawk2415 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 As a die hard soccer fan, it pleases me that finally someone is taking action against these corrupt officials Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawk2415 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 * Power to the People! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I predict the world cup tournaments in Russia and Qatar will not take place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryfrompattaya Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 When are we going to hear the their matches are like Wresting fake and file Good bye soccer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skildpadden Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 From the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/11633357/World-Cups-to-stay-in-Russia-and-Qatar-for-now-says-Fifa-on-day-of-biggest-crisis.html Wanted for questioning by Swiss authorities before they leave the country are 10 ExCo members who voted in that controversial ballot.They are vice-presidents Issa Hayatou and Angel Maria Villar Llona, as well as Michel D’Hooghe, Worawi Makudi, Senes Erzik, Vitaly Mutko, Hany Abo Rida, Marios Lefkaritis, Rafael Salguero and Jacques Anouma. He might not be arrested, but they certainly would like to discuss a few things with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now