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Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #120 on: May 27, 2015, 12:46:41 PM »
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The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #121 on: May 27, 2015, 12:48:13 PM »

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Offline reggae-fan

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #122 on: May 27, 2015, 12:51:33 PM »
So far not seeing anything to implicate one Mr Horace Burrell. He is in fact in Zurich with a three member Jamaica delegation and was staying at the said Hotel where the arrests took place.  I do know that he is close buddies of Webb on and off the field, I have no doubt that it was through Webb's connections (no pun) that got Jamaica invited to Copa America 2015.

Jamaica recently signed a sponsorship deal middle-east based kit manufacturers Rommai Sport...I believe the guy opposing Blatter is from that area.

http://iriefm.net/jff-president-captain-horace-burrell-heads-3-man-delegation-for-fifa-congress/

 

Offline FF

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #123 on: May 27, 2015, 01:09:01 PM »

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This man say he single handedly take we to the World Cup yes.

I ent realize he score all dem goals and make all them saves.

One Jack against 11 Bahrainis in the playoffs, 18 games and 9 countries before that. Legend!!
THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

Offline Zeppo

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #124 on: May 27, 2015, 01:41:40 PM »
Trinidad issues arrest warrant for Jack Warner

An arrest warrant has been issued in Trinidad and Tobago for former FIFA vice president Jack Warner at the request of U.S. authorities, the attorney general of the twin island Caribbean nation sys.

The two countries have an extradition treaty. The statement said it would "ensure that Mr. Warner's rights are respected." Warner, a former FIFA vice president indicted by U.S. authorities investigating corruption in soccer, says he is innocent.

(continue)
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Offline Bitter

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #125 on: May 27, 2015, 01:49:15 PM »
Jack in custody surrenders to fraud squad
Published on May 27, 2015, 2:04 pm AST
Updated on May 27, 2015, 3:23 pm AST
By Richard Charan

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150527/news/jack-in-custody-surrenders-to-fraud-squad


Jack Warner this afternoon surrendered to police officers at the Fraud Squad, Police Headquarters, Port of Spain. He came following news that polcie had obtained a warrant for his arrest. It is uncertain whether he will appear in court today.

For the past year, the Central Authority Unit of the Ministry of the Attorney General has been working with the United States Department of Justice, regarding the criminal indictment against Jack Warner. This according to AG Garvin Nicholas, who said that police now have an arrest warrant for Warner.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General this afternoon, it was confirmed that the US formally requested the assistance of the Central Authority for the issuing of a Provisional Arrest Warrant for Warner, pending the commencement of extradition proceedings.

The request was made pursuant to the Extradition Treaty between the US and T&T Governments .

"The Provisional Arrest Warrant was issued and is now in the hands of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for execution" the statement read.

The release stated that Warner was entitled to a fair extradition process and both the requesting and requested States intend to abide by the provisions of the Treaty to ensure that Warners rights were respected.
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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #126 on: May 27, 2015, 02:17:33 PM »
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Lesson to all of the posters here (Coop's, ah hope yuh hearing above): Corruption does not pay.
We must believe in integrity, meritocracy.
Jackulito aka Renraw may now be preparing for the game over moves.
When the day in court finally comes, few in the audience won't support the judge when he or she says: "29 yrs in maximum security prison with no chance of bail. Take him away!"

Right next to Ish and Steve, right?

Post.

Offline dreamer

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #127 on: May 27, 2015, 02:30:19 PM »
Long interview version on the FIFA indictments of Jackulito, Webbulito and posse.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?326271-1/attorney-general-loretta-lynch-fifa-indictments
Supportin' de Warriors right tru.

Offline elan

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #128 on: May 27, 2015, 02:39:35 PM »
I know right. American exceptionalism at it's best. Where banks can do insider trading all day long and no one goes to jail. But you know how serious us Yanks take our footb uh, soccer.

Dred if you hate the US so much then why yuh pack up in de people and dem country?  Focus that energy on moving back to Trinidad and helping it.  You come like some ah dem Indians (like Sat Maharaj) who only love to run down Trinidad while bigging up India... well move tuh f**k back already.  This has nothing to do with "American exceptionalism"... CONCACAF under Jack and Blazer was thiefing money left and right and not paying taxes.  You really that dunce to think that any of this is over football?  I'm sure the US getting slighted for the WC probably caused somebody in the USSF to sic the FBI on CONCACAF, but you schupid enough to have yuh HQ in one of the more aggressive US Attorney's office, and thiefing money hand over fist.  The DOJ bring down Al Capone on tax evasion charges but they should let CONCACAF slide?  Sometimes is best to just hush and let you talk yes.  You's ah accidental comedian... ah natural joker without even trying.

Daiz it, wow. Nah, none of this is over football, daiz why the investigation time line conveniently stars in 1991 to coincide with JW reign of CONCACAF. No investigation into how after 40 years of rubbish, the US just pulled itself from the ruble and jumped on top the heap in CONCACAF.

Yuh right, it's not about football, yet USsoccer is nowhere to be seen in any of this. What's glaring is that Lynch mentioned that over $110 million was exchange in the run up to the Copa being in the US next year, yet where are the US officials. A pawn from NASL? So COMNEBOL negotiated with themselves to host the COPA in the US with no input from USsoccer? Is that how you see it.

See according to you, calling a thing like it is means a person hate that thing. Maybe sticking one's head in the sand on atrocities and missteps epitomizes love and patriotism. That's some good tea party rhetoric right there.  Yeah, I should go back to my country.

You really think I support what JW and FIFA did. As far as I see though JW et al are just "patsies".
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Offline Sando prince

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #129 on: May 27, 2015, 02:40:19 PM »


Offline Sando prince

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #130 on: May 27, 2015, 02:41:07 PM »

BREAKING NEWS: Jack Warner is granted bail of $2.5 million; he must surrender his passport and reappear July 9th

Offline elan

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #131 on: May 27, 2015, 02:42:01 PM »
For those who are not exceptional in the world, think about what happens to Qatar and Russia if JW block of votes are nullified.

*Disclaimer* I love Conspiracy Theories.   :-[
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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #132 on: May 27, 2015, 02:48:31 PM »
U.S. Soccer Federation Statement

The United States Soccer Federation firmly believes there is no higher priority, and nothing more important, than protecting the integrity of our game. We are committed to the highest ethical standards and business practices, and we will continue to encourage CONCACAF and FIFA to promote the same values. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we will not speculate or comment further on this matter at this time.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/05/27/11/36/150527-us-soccer-statement-on-fifa

Offline vb

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #133 on: May 27, 2015, 03:11:24 PM »
According to the TT Guardian, Warner two sons sign statements to the Feds two years ago.
But I can't believe they would sell out their father.

I do however believe they sell out everybody else.

VB
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Offline dervaig

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #134 on: May 27, 2015, 03:17:53 PM »
According to the TT Guardian, Warner two sons sign statements to the Feds two years ago.
But I can't believe they would sell out their father.

I do however believe they sell out everybody else.

VB

No need to point a finger at their dad.
The mere fact they were not member's of FIFA, and have ALREADY
pleaded guilty, would lead one to believe they were either the
front for their dad, and following his instructions, or happened
to have monies going to, or coming from some FIFA related party,
unbeknownst to Mr. Havelange's black son.

I know which one I believe, which one do you believe?

Offline elan

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #135 on: May 27, 2015, 03:21:42 PM »
Their do't need to be any big secrets told. All the FBI or IRS need is evidenced that you placed a phone call to or from a US location, used and IP from the US, met and discussed intent, used a us bank, wired money to or from. They don't need a full out snitch. Even then, Chuck Blazer had already filled them in on how things went down.
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Offline elan

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #136 on: May 27, 2015, 03:28:38 PM »
Bail was denied. Warner will spend the night in Jail. Most likely the will take him to POSP and they may transfer him to MSP unless his court date is early in the morning. He will go to the infirmary or and empty cell.



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Offline MEP

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #137 on: May 27, 2015, 03:29:06 PM »
Elan I am in partial agreement with what you are saying. There is the perception that only a few are guilty and that Blazer is the only corrupt one within us scoccer. However, US soccer was built off the back of CONCACAF and what ever back room deals were made.  Therefore the role of Rothenberger who assumed office in 1990 and got the bid for the 1994 US World Cup and those who surrounded him must be examined.

Offline elan

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #138 on: May 27, 2015, 03:33:33 PM »
Elan I am in partial agreement with what you are saying. There is the perception that only a few are guilty and that Blazer is the only corrupt one within us scoccer. However, US soccer was built off the back of CONCACAF and what ever back room deals were made.  Therefore the role of Rothenberger who assumed office in 1990 and got the bid for the 1994 US World Cup and those who surrounded him must be examined.

You talking to much sense.
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Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #139 on: May 27, 2015, 03:36:15 PM »
World Cup sponsor Adidas reacts to the arrest of FIFA officials.
By Lara O'Reilly (Business Insider).


Adidas has become the first World Cup sponsor to publicly respond to the news Wednesday morning that FIFA was subject to two separate corruption probes, which resulted in the arrests of several high-ranking officials.
The German sportswear company stopped short of being critical of football's governing body, but instead encouraged FIFA to maintain ethical and compliance standards.

Adidas' statement in full, sent to Business Insider via email, reads:

The Adidas Group is fully committed to creating a culture that promotes the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we expect the same from our partners. Following today’s news, we can therefore only encourage FIFA to continue to establish and follow transparent compliance standards in everything they do.

Adidas is the world’s leading football brand and we will continue to support football on all levels.

FIFA is subject of two separate criminal investigations: One from the Swiss Attorney General regarding the voting process for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the other from the US Department of Justice, which resulted in the arrest of nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives on Wednesday.

An indictment from the US Department of Justice has charged 14 people with racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies in connection with their participation in a "24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer."

In a press conference held in Zurich earlier today, FIFA's spokesman Walter De Gregorio said this morning's arrests offer an opportunity to clean up the organization.

He added: "This for FIFA is good. It's not good in terms of image; it's not good in terms of reputation, but in terms of cleaning up everything we did in the last four years, this is good."

Business Insider has contacted all of the other FIFA World Cup sponsors for comment on today's arrests. The only other sponsor apart from Adidas to respond was automaker Hyundai, which said it would "not be making any comment at this time."

Last year, several World Cup sponsors, including Visa and Coca-Cola, came out publicly criticizing FIFA's handling of its investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #140 on: May 27, 2015, 03:43:32 PM »
Sports Minister: Warner must answer
T&T Newsday Reports.


Minister of Sport and former Soca Warrior, Brent Sancho, believes ex-FIFA vice-president Jack Warner should be extradited to the United States “to answer serious questions” posed to him by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations).

Sancho was speaking to Newsday following an early morning swoop in Switzerland by police on delegates who were convening forFriday’s FIFA presidential election where incumbent Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth consecutive term.

Warner, who resigned from FIFA in June 2011 amid a proliferation of allegations of corruption ahead of the previous election, is named among 14 persons indicted including current CONCACAF boss Jeffrey Webb for racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

Sancho, who had a personal battle with Warner and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for 2006 World Cup bonuses and accountability for close to $200 million from the 2006 World Cup campaign, had little sympathy for the former Special Advisor to the TTFA.

“I believe once there is concrete evidence he should answer what questions are raised to him. And based on the international reports that have been coming out for the last few years he has to answer a number of serious questions,” he stated.

Sancho said this current FIFA scandal is a reminder to all sporting bodies to adhere to the principles of integrity while in office as no longer will the world sit back and allow corrupt sporting activities to continue unpunished.

“It’s a historic day in terms of how people will conduct business. We at home and the TTFA need to be cognizant of this. I’m not saying they have done anything illegal but we must be aware that accountability is a must. People must remember how powerful CONCACAF is in terms of voting because of the number of countries we have. It has a lot to say in terms of everything going on at FIFA and what is playing out right now,” he explained.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Dutty

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #141 on: May 27, 2015, 03:48:59 PM »
For those who are not exceptional in the world, think about what happens to Qatar and Russia if JW block of votes are nullified.

*Disclaimer* I love Conspiracy Theories.   :-[

so whey yuh tink is de overall play here.....den yankee tryin dey best to yank de world cup from russia and squeeze putin stones some more?

I think yuh have a point oui...jack and dem is just minnows in Act 1
Interesting that not even interpol was making arrests in switzerland..was de FBI self

In as much as I applaud todays power move,,,,sometimes dat long law arm is a lil too long for my liking oui
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Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #142 on: May 27, 2015, 03:50:08 PM »
Panday on Warner's indictment: An example of T&T's decline
By  Sue-Ann Wayow (Express).


FORMER prime minister Basdeo Panday said that the United States Department of Justice's request to extradite Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader Jack Warner has been indicted for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering, will be a long process.

Panday said he would be watching to see how the situation with Warner, a former FIFA vice president, played out.

Panday said: "I imagine they (US) will ask for extradition, it will go to court and then probably take a very long time. That is what is going to happen."

Panday who once shared a close relationship with Warner said Warner's charges only added to the increasing negative reputation that Trinidad and Tobago was having.

He said: "Trinidad and Tobago has been declining in world opinion since 2010."

Panday added: "I am going to be like the Roman emperor called Nero. And I am going to sit on this big platform and I am going to watch down into the arena at the games people play."

When asked how he felt about Warner being charged, Panday responded: "I do not feel anything for people except good things."

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #143 on: May 27, 2015, 03:53:12 PM »
PM: No pleasure in Warner's FIFA troubles.
C News Live


Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she takes "no pleasure" in the latest development concerning the extradition request made for former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner by the United States.

On Wednesday morning, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that the United States has formally indicted 14 individuals, including Mr. Warner, after years of intense forensic investigations into corruption at FIFA and their umbrella organisations.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon, she said the charges, which Mr. Warner has been found guilty of, are punishable by United States law.

"The provisional arrest warrant was issued and I am told by the Attorney General that the arrest warrant is now in the hands of the Police Service for execution. I say it brings me no pleasure. The Member is a Member of this Honourable House. The matter is now in the hands of law enforcement officials, judicial officials, judicial officers, for due process according to the laws of Trinidad and Tobago."

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline King Deese

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #144 on: May 27, 2015, 04:10:59 PM »
I bet you thought this day would never be born. This baby was dropped at midnight.

Hey Jack. You still have that noose hanging in your office?

Ms. Lynch is no joke.

The police actor cannot believe his hero got arrested. The man said he knows nothing about any arrest warrant. And this man sitting high in the arena like Nero and he knows nothing. Even the legal community cannot believe their hero is in jail waiting to be extradited to a foreign country to answer to crimes he had nothing to do with for the past four or five years. At least, so he says.

Real talk. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time now. I am going to pull up my lazy boy, chill my twelve pack of buds, pop my popcorn, spread out my chips, lay out my dips and sit back and watch this shit. Lights, camera and action.

P.S. I am expecting all the stupid talk from the so called crime fighters in Trinidad that protected him, the legal community that loved him, the politicians that accepted him as their comrade, the corrupted that fought corruption alongside him, the judges and attorneys that failed to prosecute this joker, the Integrity Commission that knows very little about integrity even if it jumped up and bit them in the ass for moving like molasses and doing absolutely nothing about this man, and to all this jokers fans, known and unknown, supporting him on this forum and sucking his jock straps, the chicken has come home to roost.
I am the punishment of God...If you had not comitted great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.

Offline Peong

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #145 on: May 27, 2015, 04:12:43 PM »
Check Jack body language, he is shaken.  So much so that he start to babble about how he single-handedly get us to the WC.
Take yuh licks Jack, yuh been tiefin for too long.

Offline Flex

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #146 on: May 27, 2015, 04:24:49 PM »
FBI raids Miami Beach office of CONCACAF as part of international soccer investigation.
BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN, JAY WEAVER AND JACQUELINE CHARLES


Federal authorities shook up the world of soccer Wednesday with an indictment charging top FIFA officials from Latin America and the Caribbean and other regional officials based in South Florida with participating in a $150 million bribery scheme over the past two decades.

Justice Department officials unveiled the indictment of 14 soccer officials and sports executives, including some arrested in Switzerland who are attending the Federation Internationale de Football Association’s governing board elections this week.

The indictment was returned by a grand jury in Brooklyn, New York, but the federal investigation revolves around not only high-ranking FIFA officials but also those in charge of its North American regional headquarters in Miami Beach, known as CONCACAF. FBI agents raided the office early Wednesday.

Also implicated in the racketeering scheme, Traffic Sports USA, which is based in Miami and until recently owned the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Among those indicted: CONCACAF’s current president, Jeffrey Webb, who is also a FIFA vice president and executive committee member; Jack Warner, CONCACAF’s former president, who also once served as a FIFA vice president and executive committee member; and Miami resident Aaron Davidson, president of Traffic Sports USA and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the North American Soccer League, a second-tier U.S. league of which the Strikers are a member.

FBI agents arrested Davidson Tuesday night. He must first make a federal court appearance in Miami before his expected transfer to face racketeering charges in New York.

In light of the investigation, the North American Soccer League's Board of Governors said it has suspended its chairperson, Davidson, along with all business activities between the league and Traffic Sports. Commissioner Bill Peterson will serve as acting chairperson.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said, citing “at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”

Before the indictment was unsealed Wednesday, four other defendants pleaded guilty, including Charles Blazer, former long-serving general secretary of CONCACAF and a former FIFA executive committee member. Also pleading guilty: Jose Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, a multinational sports marketing conglomerate headquartered in Brazil that is the parent company of Traffic Sports USA and Traffic Sports International.

“I was watching CNN this morning over breakfast and was shocked when I saw Traffic was involved,’’ said Luiz Muzzi, a soccer executive for Traffic from 2002 to 2012, now Director of Soccer Operations for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. “I spent nine years working with a lot of those people, including Aaron, and I have only good things to say about them. I was on the soccer side, dealing with players and Strikers team issues, and don’t know all the ins and outs of the business side, but I never saw anything shady. I hope the allegations prove to be false.’’

This is how the alleged criminal “enterprise” operated during the past two decades, according to the Justice Department.

Federal authorities said top soccer officials “enriched” themselves with more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks paid by sports marketing companies, such as Traffic Sports USA, which bought FIFA’s commercial rights to promote soccer events and tournaments.

In turn, the marketing companies sold those rights “downstream” to TV and radio networks, major corporate sponsors and others that broadcast soccer matches or advertise their brands. According to FIFA, 70 percent of its $5.7 billion in revenues from 2011 to 2014 was derived from the sale of TV and marketing rights to the 2014 World Cup.

Since 1991, the 14 defendants — along with the four others who have already pleaded guilty — “corrupted” the enterprise through various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering, according to the Justice Department.

“Two generations of soccer officials abused their positions of trust for personal gain, frequently through an alliance with unscrupulous sports marketing executives who shut out competitors and kept highly lucrative contracts for themselves through the systematic payment of bribes and kickbacks,” Justice Department officials said in a press release.

“All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments.’’

The Justice Department’s focus on South Florida sharpened in late 2013 when Blazer — the general secretary for the Miami-based Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) — pleaded guilty to racketeering, fraud and money laundering conspiracies stemming from the bribery scheme. He agreed to turn over $1.9 million in illicit payments and to make a second payment upon his pending sentencing, according to federal court records.

Blazer also agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in New York, pointing the finger at Hawilla, the owner of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing giant that owns Traffic Sports USA in Miami. He pleaded guilty at the end of 2014 and agreed to forfeit more than $151 million in bribery payments, according to court records. He paid $25 million at the time of his plea agreement.

Hawilla also agreed to cooperate, providing insider knowledge on the extent of Traffic Sport’s role in the bribery conspiracy, records show. In fact, Traffic Sports and another company, Traffic Sports International, pleaded guilty to a wire-fraud conspiracy charge earlier this month.

Another Miami connection in the alleged scheme: a soccer official listed as co-conspirator #4 in Wednesday’s indictment, who the Miami Herald has learned is Enrique Sanz. He succeeded Blazer as CONCACAF’s general secretary. Before assuming that position in 2012, Sanz was vice president at Traffic Sports. Sanz is listed among 25 unnamed co-conspirators in the indictment.

According to news reports, Sanz has been battling leukemia. When contacted for a comment, Sanz’s defense attorney Joseph DeMaria, stated: “At present, he and his family are focusing on his health.”

Meanwhile, in Zurich, Switzerland, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings into international soccer’s governing body awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, only hours after seven soccer officials were arrested Wednesday pending extradition to the United States in a separate Justice Department probe of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption.

The Swiss prosecutors’ office said the U.S. probe was separate from its investigation but that authorities were working together.

FIFA said the election would go ahead as planned with Sepp Blatter going for a fifth term as president. Blatter was not named in either investigation.

FIFA also ruled out a revote of the World Cups won by Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

The Swiss prosecutors’ office said in a statement that they seized “electronic data and documents” at FIFA’s headquarters on Wednesday as part of their probe. And Swiss police said they will question 10 FIFA executive committee members who took part in the World Cup votes in December 2010.

The Swiss investigation against “persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering” again throws into doubt the integrity of the voting.

“FIFA is fully cooperating with the investigation and is supporting the collection of evidence in this regard,” FIFA said in a statement.

The Swiss announcement came only hours after 14 people were indicted in the U.S. for corruption. Seven of them were arrested and detained by Swiss police at the request of U.S. authorities after a raid at a luxury hotel in Zurich.

The Justice Department said in a statement that two current FIFA vice presidents were among those arrested and indicted, Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands and Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay. The others are Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, Julio Rocha of Nicaragua, Costas Takkas of Britain, Rafael Esquivel of Venezuela and Jose Maria Marin of Brazil.

All seven are connected with the regional confederations of North America and South America and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Nine of the 14 who were indicted by the Justice Department are or were soccer officials, while four are sports marketing executives; another works in broadcasting. Warner, a former FIFA vice president from Trinidad and Tobago, was among those indicted. He surrendered Wednesday afternoon after an arrest warrant was issued for him by Trinidadian authorities. Two of Warner’s sons, Daryll and Daryan, pleaded guilty to related charges after cooperating with U.S. investigators almost two years ago.

Warner, who is currently a member of the twin island’s parliament after losing his job as national security minister amid reports of an FBI probe into the damning corruption allegations, maintained his innocence Wednesday. In a statement he released on his official Facebook page, Warner said he hasn’t been afforded any due process nor has he been questioned in the matter.

He quit FIFA and international football “more than four years ago,” he said.

“I have fought fearlessly against all forms of injustice and corruption,” he noted.

In an exclusive interview with CCN/TV 6 senior multimedia investigative journalist Mark Bassant at his office Wednesday, Warner said he has nothing to hide and will be exonerated.

Warner has faced corruption allegations since the 1980s, but in 2011 — as vice president of FIFA — he was accused of attempting to bribe Caribbean delegates with $40,000 each to vote for FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Warner also was accused of embezzling $15 million of federation funds and misappropriating $1 million in FIFA money earmarked for a reconstruction project in Haiti. According to the soccer confederation ethics panel, Warner also failed to disclose that the $25.9 million Havelange Centre for Excellence in Port of Spain, built with soccer funds, sits on land he owns, according to the report.

Trinidad Attorney General Garvin Nicholas told the Miami Herald that the Justice Department has sought Warner’s extradition and “the procedure has commenced.” While the two nations have an extradition agreement, it could take months before Warner, one of the most powerful and wealthiest Caribbean nationals, is brought to the United States.

Under Trinidadian law, he will have an opportunity to fight the extraditon in the courts.

“There is a process that has to be followed,” Nicholas said, adding that some extraditions move, “faster than others. It just depends.”

Nicholas said the government has been cooperating with U.S. authorities “for some time now” in the bribery scandal.

U.S. case

The U.S. case involves alleged bribes totaling more than $150 million linked to commercial deals dating to the 1990s for soccer tournaments in the United States and Latin America, according to the Justice Department. U.S. authorities said the corruption is linked to World Cup qualifying matches and the Copa America — South America’s continental championship.

In Switzerland, dozens of soccer officials have been gathered this week for the FIFA congress and presidential election, where Blatter is widely expected to win re-election at the helm of the governing body of world soccer.

Blatter was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Confederation of African Football in a different downtown Zurich hotel, but he canceled his appearance.

Blatter’s only opponent in Friday’s presidential election, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, said it was “a sad day for football,” but declined to comment further.

The arrests were made at the lakeside Baur au Lac Hotel in downtown Zurich, long favored as a place for senior FIFA officials to stay. It was the stage for intense lobbying for votes ahead of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting decisions in December 2010.

Florida connection

In Florida, a small group of agents from the FBI and IRS executed search warrants at CONCACAF headquarters in Miami Beach.

Neither agency offered comment on the investigation.

The North American regional body, known as CONCACAF, reported itself to U.S. tax authorities in 2012. Then based in New York, the organization had not paid taxes over several years when its president was Warner and secretary general was Chuck Blazer of the United States.

Warner left soccer in 2011 to avoid FIFA sanctions in a bribery scandal during that year’s presidential election. Blazer left in 2013 and has pleaded guilty to charges, the Justice Department said in Wednesday’s statement.

Warner’s successor as CONCACAF leader and FIFA vice president is Webb, who was staying at the Baur au Lac this week.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in its statement that U.S. authorities suspect the arrested officials of having received or paid bribes totaling millions of dollars and that the crimes were agreed to and prepared in the U.S., and payments carried out via U.S. banks.

“The bribery suspects — representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms — are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to the soccer functionaries [FIFA delegates] and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations — totaling more than USD 100 million,” the FOJ statement said.

A statement in German added that the probe involved tournaments in the United States.

International media gathered at the street entrance of the Baur au Lac in scenes reminiscent of the World Cup votes won by Russia and Qatar more than four years ago.

Then, former President Bill Clinton was inside meeting FIFA voters who later rejected the American bid in favor of Qatar, and Britain’s Prince William was part of the losing English bid team.

Suspicions of vote-buying and wrongdoing in those bidding contests have dogged FIFA ever since.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

Soccer glossary

▪ FIFA: Federation Internationale de Football Association is the international governing body overseeing soccer. It is composed of 209 member associations and six regional confederations, each representing organized soccer in a nation or region. FIFA is based in Zurich, Switzerland.

▪ CONCACAF: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association of Football. The continental confederation under FIFA that governs soccer in this region. Headquartered in Miami Beach.

▪ CONMEBOL: Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol. The federation that oversees soccer in 10 South American nations. Based in Luque, Paraguay.

▪ NASL: North American Soccer League. The second-tier professional league in the U.S. soccer pyramid. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are a member of NASL, as is the newly launched Miami FC, which is scheduled to begin play in April 2016. Aaron Davidson, a Miami resident indicted in the FIFA probe, is chairman of the NASL Board of Governors and formerly was president of the Strikers.

▪ Traffic: A Brazil-based sports marketing and media company that has a U.S. branch called Traffic USA, based in South Florida. The company negotiates broadcast rights and sponsorship deals for tournaments in the Americas such as the Copa America, Copa Libertadores and Gold Cup.


FBI agents haul off boxes of evidence from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) offices in Miami Beach on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. | C.M. GUERRERO EL NUEVO HERALD

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #147 on: May 27, 2015, 04:28:18 PM »

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #148 on: May 27, 2015, 04:45:10 PM »
Listen to this BBC Podcast: "FIFA's Darkest Day":

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/fivelive/5lfd/5lfd_20150527-2018b.mp3

Offline Sando prince

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Re: FIFA News Thread.
« Reply #149 on: May 27, 2015, 04:51:57 PM »
Watching all the different media channels contribution on these developments you can see how much the British media hate Blatter and the FIFA executive. Dey dont like him at all. I am not a fan of Blatter either but the British really really don't like him

 

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