Former Fifa executive Nicolas Leoz and Ricardo Teira has been charged of bribery, they are both accused of taking bribes in return for voting for Russia and Qatar to host the World Cup. This accusisation is in accordance to the US prosecutors who have been investigating the case for some time now. FBI has being following the case which is a football corrupt activity.
Recently a new indictment was revealed in the US District Court and the document claimed several former Fifa executive committee members “were offered or received bribes in connection with their votes“. The Department of Justice made known the names of the people involved to be former president of South American governing body Conmebol Nicolas Leoz, and ex-Brazil federation supremo Ricardo Teixeira.
Both are accused of taking bribe in exchange for their votes which went in favor of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup. Former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago are not also left out, they were allegedly paid £4m through a host of offshore shell companies to back Russia’s 2018 bid.
Russia beat England to win the right to host the just concluded 2018 World Cup, it was all the works of the former Fifa prediedent Jack Warner. Another former Fifa Exco who is involved in this corrupt practice is Guatemala football chief Rafael Salguero, he was allegedly promised a bribe to vote for Russia.
Its been almost 10 years since Fifa controversially voted for Russia and Qatar to host the World Cup event, but it was only in 2015, in Zurich hotel which is close to the governing body’s headquarters, that the US Department of Justice announced it was investigating the case. The scandal sparked the worst crisis in Fifa’s history, with its disgraced president Sepp Blatter eventually standing aside.
Since Leoz is dead and Teixeira and the other executives has been banned from engaging in football activities for life by Fifa for taking bribes for. Former executives at US television giant 21st Century Fox have also been charged in the indictment with making payments to South American football officials to secure broadcast rights.
“The profiteering and bribery in international soccer have been deep-seated and commonly known practices for decades,” said FBI assistant director-in-charge William Sweeney. “The FBI are investigating the illicit handshakes and backroom deals hidden in the infrastructure of soccer events, venues and marketing contracts.
“The first public charges date back to 2015. This should illustrate to everyone still hoping to score millions corruptly, we’re going to find you.” A total of 42 people have been indicted, with 26 already pleading guilty.
This fresh case might hinder the 2022 Fifa World Cup tournament which Quater is supposed to host, and also lead to Fifa investigating more cases. According to the spokes person of the investigating body he said: “At the time we answered all questions, including from the investigation branch of Fifa and from the media, we handed over all needed documents.
“We have nothing to add to this and we will not respond to attempts to cast a shadow on our bid.” The Qatar organising committee and Fifa have been approached for comment and their response will be given later.
