The Sepp Blatter bribery scandal grows bigger as more evidence comes to light and an FBI investigation is launched.
In Switzerland gambling news, FIFA president Sepp Blatter is being probed by the FBI over allegations of bribery and corruption. The focal point of the Blatter bribery scandal is the sports marketing company ISL, who paid over $100 million to officials in order to secure lucrative television and marketing rights throughout the 1990s. Blatter denies knowledge of the bribes and continues to take no action, but new evidence from the FBI suggests that his claims are bogus.
A letter has been obtained by the FBI that was written by former FIFA president Joao Havelange. In it Havelange discusses the ISL payments and says that Blatter had “full knowledge of all activities” and was “always apprised” of them. Despite this new proof, Blatter—who says he will step down in 2016—continues to decline to comment on and deny involvement in bribery of any kind.
That said, he is now serving a 90 day suspension from FIFA, and will be taken to court with the sport organization’s ethics judge in mid-December.
Of the Blatter bribery scandal, Damian Collins MP said: “You have to ask yourself why did he seek to protect these people, and not just protect them but allow them to continue to play an active role in some of FIFA’s most important decisions?”
The Sepp Blatter bribery scandal grows bigger as more evidence comes to light and an FBI investigation is launched.
In Switzerland gambling news, FIFA president Sepp Blatter is being probed by the FBI over allegations of bribery and corruption. The focal point of the Blatter bribery scandal is the sports marketing company ISL, who paid over $100 million to officials in order to secure lucrative television and marketing rights throughout the 1990s. Blatter denies knowledge of the bribes and continues to take no action, but new evidence from the FBI suggests that his claims are bogus.
A letter has been obtained by the FBI that was written by former FIFA president Joao Havelange. In it Havelange discusses the ISL payments and says that Blatter had “full knowledge of all activities” and was “always apprised” of them. Despite this new proof, Blatter—who says he will step down in 2016—continues to decline to comment on and deny involvement in bribery of any kind.
That said, he is now serving a 90 day suspension from FIFA, and will be taken to court with the sport organization’s ethics judge in mid-December.
Of the Blatter bribery scandal, Damian Collins MP said: “You have to ask yourself why did he seek to protect these people, and not just protect them but allow them to continue to play an active role in some of FIFA’s most important decisions?”