African Sports Monthly International Women's Day Special Edition | Page 77

Many observers felt it would end up with the usual dead silence and inaction
that followed past corruption claims and charges involving FIFA officials.
It however turned out to be the biggest scrutiny that has ever rocked the
organisation, and looks to be the turning point in the quest for a more
transparent outfit run by people with integrity.

One of the most alarming claims was a criminal scheme of over $200 million in
bribes and kickbacks involving former Brazil football federation chief Ricardo
Teixeira, who was a FIFA Executive Committee member.
The ordinary football fan would ask: how does this affect the beauty and
enjoyment of the game?

FIFA is responsible for running world football and their biggest income comes
from the World Cup which generates billions of dollars in revenue from
corporate sponsors, broadcasting rights and merchandising.
Part of these funds are in turn allocated to FIFA’s poorer affiliate members to
develop grassroots facilities which are expected to nurture young talent that
would in time graduate into an active career, thus sustaining the discipline
across the globe.

The FBI spent three years of thorough investigation to unearth those schemes
of corruption that the report says had prospered within FIFA for 24 years.
But why is the US, a country with lesser interest in football (soccer), so
concerned, obsessed and excited to fix an independent Swiss-based outfit?
Many have asked.

According to the Department of Justice, the whole graft was planned in the US
and banks in the country were used to transfer funds to other destinations.
Furthermore, the whistleblower, Charles “Chuck” Blazer is an American, and
former general secretary of the Confederation of North, Central America and
Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf).
The FBI’s investigations have been largely reliant on his tipoff.

There are claims that the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022
World Cup tournaments were smeared with kickbacks, but no exact amount or