World football's battered and bruised governing body FIFA has started a fightback in the corruption crisis by attempting to recoup tens of millions of dollars in damages.
FIFA, in its position as a 'victimised institution' robbed by crooked football officials, put in an official Request for Restitution to the US Attorney's office in New York looking to reclaim over $28million for starters.
They are chasing the return of the salaries, expenses and bonuses from those 41 'corrupt' FIFA members and other football officials during their tenure in Zurich as well as the huge legal fees involved in cleaning up the organisation .
Those named in the documents include some of FIFA's biggest rogues such as Jack Warner, Chuck Blazer and Jeffrey Webb plus Warner's sons Daryan and Daryll.
The Request papers also see FIFA admit for the first time that South Africa's $10m payment to Warner and Blazer was a bribe for World Cup votes in 2010.
Also enclosed in the file bound for the Brooklyn office of UA Attorney General Loretta Lynch are media reports of former CONCACAF President Webb, once regarded as Sepp Blatter's heir apparent, staging a lavish champagne party for his wife's 40th birthday at his Georgian mansion – bought with ill-gotten FIFA money also used to install a swimming pool – while on house arrest there.
Legal sources close to FIFA are confident their move will be successful.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: 'The convicted defendants abused the positions of trust they held at FIFA and other international football organisations and caused serious and lasting damage to FIFA, its member associations and the football community.
'The monies they pocketed belong to global football and were meant for the development and promotion of the game. FIFA as the world governing body of football wants that money back and we are determined to get it no matter how long it takes.'
The 22-page request states: 'Over many years the Defendants grossly abused positions of trust to enrich themselves while causing significant harm to FIFA including huge financial loses.
'The damage done by the defendants greed cannot be overstated . Their actions have deeply tarnished the FIFA brand.They did violence to FIFA's principles.
'They looked to ways to line their own pockets and siphon off opportunities. They sold the power of their positions taking bribes and kickbacks in return for selling valuable marketing rights.'
In the most damning admission yet about the scale of FIFA's corruption culture , the report said: 'It is now apparent that multiple members of FIFA ExCo abused their positions and sold their votes on multiple occasions.'
(Dailymail) Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com