There was a huge rage on Wednesday morning after some of FIFA's top officials were arrested in charges of corruption. But what is all this fuss about? Read on...
On Wednesday morning, the football world was shaken when seven high ranking officials of FIFA were arrested from the from the Baur Au Lac Hotel in Zurich as part of a United States Justice Department investigation into corruption in football's governing body.
Here's all you need to know about the latest crisis to hit FIFA.
WHAT IS THE SCANDAL ALL ABOUT?
Several football officials are alleged to have received well over $150 million since 1991 in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for favours for sports marketing executives.
The US has also alleged that some payments were made to influence the selection of the host country for the 2010 World Cup, which happened in South Africa. The arrests were made at the request of the United States. US investigators are still carrying out raids.
Headquarters of CONCACAF, the body that oversees footballin 41 nations including the United States, were being searched in Florida
THE INVESTIGATIONS
Actually, there are two separate investigations going on in this case.
1. By the US Department of Justice (DOJ)
They have charged 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 football. This was released by the DOJ themselves.
In co-operation with the DOJ investigation, the Zurich police arrested seven FIFA officials in an early morning raid on Wednesday.
2. By the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG)
This investigation was started when some officials from FIFA themselves prompted the OAG and filed criminal charges against persons unknown with the OAG. Officials have seized electronic data and documents from FIFA’s headquarters and this was done with the FIFA’s full co-operation.
Although well versed with this, FIFA was clueless about the first investigation held by DOJ.
THE PEOPLE ARRESTED
1. Jeffrey Webb: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executive committee member and Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) president.
2. Eduardo Li: Current FIFA executive committee member-elect, CONCACAF executive committee member and Costa Rican soccer federation (FEDEFUT) president.
3. Julio Rocha: Current FIFA development officer. Former Central American Football Union (UNCAF) president and Nicaraguan soccer federation (FENIFUT) president.
4. Costas Takkas: Current attaché to the CONCACAF president. Former CIFA general secretary.
5. Jack Warner: Former FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, CFU president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser.
6. Eugenio Figueredo: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member. Former CONMEBOL president and Uruguayan soccer federation (AUF) president.
7. Rafael Esquivel: Current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation (FVF) president.
8. José Maria Marin: Current member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments. Former CBF president.
9.Nicolás Leoz: Former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president.
Of these nine arrests, seven are related to FIFA. Apart from these, four other officails not related to FIFA have also been arrested.
And the charges they face are once mentioned above, which are- racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offences.
WHAT DOES FIFA THINK?
First and foremost, the FIFA Presidential election will take place on Friday. FIFA spokesperson Walter De Gregorio, has said that Sepp Blatter has not been charged at all and nothing will happen to him. So he will hope a fair election between him and Prince Ali (who is heavily supported by Michel Platini).
Secondly, the FIFA has asked for an investigation into potential criminal activity in the World Cup bidding process but will not change the venue of 2018 and 2022 World Cup by any means.
This effectively means that Russia and Qatar will host the World Cups respectively (at least for now).
Gregorio also made it clear the Congress and elections will go ahead. This will have no affect on the holding of FIFA’s Congress and the Presidential election, the Presidential election are set to be conducted on Friday.
In a statement released after the press conference, FIFA said it is “pleased to see that the investigation is being energetically pursued for the good of football and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken.”
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