Fifa on Wednesday demanded tens of millions of dollars in damages from the “sordid” officials now facing charges in the United States over mass bribery scandals that have rocked world football.
Fifa on Wednesday demanded tens of millions of dollars in damages from the “sordid” officials now facing charges in the United States over mass bribery scandals that have rocked world football.
In a wide-ranging admission to US authorities on the scope of football corruption, football’s governing body openly accused South Africa of paying a $10 million bribe to secure votes for the 2010 World Cup.
Fifa also highlighted how one of the main accused, former Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb, has allegedly been leading a champagne lifestyle despite agreeing to hand over millions of dollars as part of a plea deal with US authorities.
World football is at the centre of multiple inquiries into bribery and misconduct and the award of World Cup tournaments.
On top of 39 individuals facing charges seven in the United States over more than $200 million in bribes, its former leader Sepp Blatter and his heir apparent Michel Platini have both been banned.
Fifa acknowledged the widespread graft of recent decades in its most explicit manner yet. It accused the tainted officials of “brazen corruption”.
“By corrupting these tournaments, matches, sponsorships, and other football affairs through their backroom deals and secret payoffs, the defendants dragged Fifa into their sordid misconduct and tarnished the Fifa brand,” said the Fifa demand for restitution made to US authorities.”
Fifa said in a statement that it “estimates that at a minimum tens of millions of dollars were diverted from the football community illegally through bribery, kickbacks and schemes carried out by the defendants.”
