Money really talks.
FIFA Scandal Could Affect Miami World Cup Bid Below:
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.Advertisement | ad info . By Brent Solomon NBCMIAMI.com updated 11/30/2010 9:46:40 AM ET Share
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The upcoming World Cup host city vote, which Miami remains one of the contenders for, is in the midst of a soccer scandal after officials with FIFA -- the Federal International Football Association -- were accused of receiving bribes. The timing couldn't be any worse. Just days before the vote to decide the host country for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments, some FIFA senior officials are in hot water and now some are calling for the vote to be postponed. European media outlets are accusing three senior officials of taking secret payments from soccer's former marketing partner, Intentional Sports and Leisure, also known as I.S.L. Two newspapers and even the BBC are reporting they've got proof - including names and payments. This is not the first time the I.S.L. has had trouble. Back in 2001, the organization went bankrupt, triggering one of the biggest criminal fraud cases in Swiss history. The case went to trial, where officials admitted to accepting secret payments back then. At the time, it was legal. "The Swiss law only changed in 2006 so since then it would be a criminal offense to pay this price but at that time it was part of the system. It was legal. I.S.L., the company, could even tell that to the tax authorities and they would reduce their tax bills because of these bribes," said journalist Jean Francois Tanda. This all going down as South Floridians anxiously await word of whether Miami will make the cut to host one of the upcoming World Cups. "It would be incredible. It wont be just the involvement of all the different kind of companies that are going to come in and involve themselves in our community but also the amount of money it would generate," said Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz. Locals are wanting the hurdles to clear so that the World Cup can roll into town. "It's about jobs, the tourism industry creates and sustains many jobs in this community, more than 100,000 to the fact that FIFA and the World Cup may be coming to this community like some of those other amazing events would continue to expand our job base," said Rolando Aevo with the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Controversy is not new to soccer's governing body. The group already banned two executives from voting in the World Cup decision due to ethics violations. Now another curve ball thrown in putting FIFA in double jeopardy at a time least expected.
