FIFA admits to World Cup hosting bribes, asks U.S. for return of money.
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA acknowledged Wednesday that past World Cups were awarded based on bribes, and the organization wants U.S. prosecutors to give it "tens of millions of dollars" seized from the former FIFA officials who took the cash.
FIFA submitted a 22-page claim to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York on Tuesday that seeks a big share in restitution from more than $190 million already forfeited by soccer and marketing officials who pleaded guilty in the sprawling corruption case.
Tens of millions of dollars more is likely to be collected by U.S. authorities when sentences are handed down, and from dozens of officials currently indicted but who have denied bribery charges or are fighting extradition.
FIFA claims it is the victim of corrupt individuals, despite widespread criticism that bribe-taking was embedded in its culture in the presidencies of Joao Havelange and Sepp Blatter, who was forced from office after 17 years by the current scandal.
"The convicted defendants abused the positions of trust they held at FIFA and other international football organizations and caused serious and lasting damage to FIFA," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday in a statement. "The monies they pocketed belonged 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."
In documents seen by The Associated Press, FIFA asks for:
— $28.2 million for years of payments, including bonuses, flights and daily expenses, to officials it now says are corrupt
— $10 million for the "theft" of money that FIFA officials transferred as bribes to then-executive committee members to vote for South Africa as 2010 World Cup host
— "substantial" cost of legal bills since separate U.S. and Swiss federal probes of corruption in international soccer were revealed last May
— damages for harm to its reputation, plus other bribes and kickbacks for media rights to non-FIFA competitions but "which were made possible because of the value of the FIFA brand"
"FIFA has become notable for the defendants' bribery and corruption, not its many good works," lawyers for soccer's world body state in the claim. "FIFA is entitled to restitution for this harm to its business relationships, reputation and intangible property."
FIFA's grab for a share of the money sets up a battle with two of its regional confederations — CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, and CONCACAF, the body running soccer in North America. It was officials and competitions from those regions that were most involved in the corruption crisis.
It also signals a change in strategy for FIFA, after months of senior officials distancing Zurich from the scandal, instead blaming confederations which are beyond its control.
Most of the already seized money — $151.7 million — will come from Brazilian marketing executive Jose Hawilla, whose group of agencies were heavily involved with matches CONCACAF and CONMEBOL controlled but not FIFA directly.
In an initial claim for $28.2 million, FIFA specifies an amount for each of 20 men from the Americas over many years that it says it should be repaid from money held by U.S. authorities.
FIFA wants more than $5.3 million it spent on Chuck Blazer, the disgraced American official who has pleaded guilty, allocates $4.4 million of its claim for former FIFA vice president Jack Warner, and $3.5 million for Ricardo Teixeira, Havelange's former son-in-law form Brazil.
Warner, a long-time powerbroker from Trinidad and Tobago until resigning in a 2011 election bribery scandal, is identified by FIFA in its 22-page claim for receiving a $1 million bribe from 1998 World Cup bid candidate Morocco, and ensuring the $10 million bribe from South Africa was paid via a FIFA account in 2008.
FIFA claims a further $2 million for payments to Jeffrey Webb, the Cayman Islands banker who was arrested at a luxury Zurich hotel last May, and now lives at his home near Atlanta, Georgia, awaiting sentence in June.
"These dollars were meant to build football fields, not mansions and pools; to buy football kits, not jewelry and cars; and to fund youth player and coach development, not to underwrite lavish lifestyles for football and sports marketing executives," Infantino said.
It is unclear how much influence Infantino, a former lawyer, had had in the restitution claim since he was elected only three weeks ago, with strong support from voters in the Americas.
Infantino's signature pitch to voters on election day was about finances, saying bluntly "It's your money." That resonated with members of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, who have had a combined $20 million central funding frozen by FIFA.
CONCACAF, based in Miami, has had its past three presidents implicated in the U.S. case. But it has passed wide-ranging reforms to clean up its operations, and has targeted restitution money to rebuild.
"CONCACAF views itself as a victim of a number of the offenses described in the indictments and intends to seek restitution at the appropriate time," the regional body said in a statement.
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RELATED NEWS
Fifa to sue Jack Warner, Chuck Blazer and Jeffrey Webb in attempt to reclaim pocketed millions
By Phil Blanche (Independent).
The governing body has submitted documents to the US authorities in an effort to reclaim tens of millions of dollars
Fifa plans to reclaim millions of dollars pocketed illegally by corrupt Fifa members and other football officials.
A US investigation exposed widespread corruption at the top of world football and Fifa estimates that at a minimum tens of millions of dollars were diverted from the sport illegally through bribery, kickbacks and corrupt schemes carried out by the defendants.
Fifa submitted documents on Wednesday to the US authorities in an effort to reclaim tens of millions of dollars taken illegally by corrupt Fifa members and other football officials
Newly-elected Fifa president Gianni Infantino said in a statement: "The defendants diverted this money not just from Fifa but from players, coaches and fans worldwide who benefit from the programmes that Fifa runs to develop and promote football."
Former executives Jack Warner, a former Fifa vice-president, Chuck Blazer and Jeffrey Webb are among the defendants Fifa has said it will sue.
Fifa says it is a "victimised institution" and has submitted a request for restitution to the US attorney's office and the US probation office for the Eastern District of New York.
It is claiming damages from 41 former Fifa officials from other football organisations indicted in the ongoing investigation by the US Department of Justice.
Fifa accepts the millions of dollars lost during the corruption scandal is likely to increase as the investigation continues.
The US government has already announced forfeiture amounts that should cover Fifa's claims for damages.
"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," Infantino said.
"The monies they pocketed belonged 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.
"These dollars were meant to build football fields, not mansions and pools; to buy football kits, not jewellery and cars; and to fund youth player and coach development, not to underwrite lavish lifestyles for football and sports marketing executives.
"When Fifa recovers this money, it will be directed back to its original purpose: for the benefit and development of international football."
Warner says FIFA owes him money.
AFP News
PORT OF SPAIN (AFP) - Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner scoffed Friday at reports that the new leaders of the global football governing body are seeking to sue him, insisting FIFA owes him money.
"I don't owe FIFA one nickel and I know that FIFA owes me, but we will deal with that in the fullness of time," Warner said, addressing reporters on the steps of the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain.
Warner said that since his resignation in 2011, he has not been paid a pension of US $100,000 a year.
"I don't even think the FIFA you're talking about is the FIFA I know," Warner said when asked for his reaction to the suit.
On Wednesday FIFA filed requests for restitution with US authorities to reclaim an estimated $190 million which 39 former FIFA executive members, regional football officials, sports marketing moguls and two companies indicted in the United States are accused of embezzling over decades.
Newly elected FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement: "The defendants diverted this money not just from FIFA but from players, coaches and fans worldwide who benefit from the programmes that FIFA runs to develop and promote football."
The new FIFA executive says a $10 million payment from South Africa to CONCACAF -- football's governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean which was led by Warner at the time -- was a bribe in exchange for votes in the 2010 World Cup bid process.
Warner was in court on Friday for a hearing in his legal challenge to extradition proceedings filed against him by the United States.
He is challenging the legality of the extradition treaty that exists between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.
Several procedural matters remain to be dealt with. Another hearing was set for June 3.