Law enforcement officials threw some serious red cards at the world soccer organization, charging nine FIFA executives and five corporate executives with conspiracy and corruption, McClatchy Newspapers reports. A stunning 47-count federal indictment unsealed today charged the defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering, among other offenses, in connection with what the Justice Department called a “24-year scheme.” Defendants include high-ranking officials of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization that regulates and promotes soccer worldwide, as well as leading officials of other soccer governing bodies.
“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said. “It spans 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.” 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.