FIFA rocked by corruption claims

THE pressure is mounting on FIFA after the organisation became embroiled in a scandal involving a senior figure for the third time this year.

In the latest controversy, Dr Nicolas Leoz, South American federation president and a FIFA executive committee member, has been alleged to have received £90,000 (€134,000) in sweeteners.

The 78-year-old has been named as having received two payments relating to television rights in a report by Swiss magistrates investigating the collapse of FIFA’s former marketing partner ISMM/ISL.

Two weeks ago, FIFA announced Lord Sebastian Coe is to chair their new independent ethics commission, but the magistrates will have to complete their legal investigation before there is any chance of the Leoz case being referred to the new body.

These latest allegations come subsequent to World Cup ticket scandals involving two of Leoz’s fellow members of FIFA’s executive committee this year.

Botswana’s Ismael Bhamjee was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace for selling tickets at a profit to fans, and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner is under investigation from the organisation’s disciplinary committee after auditors reported he too was involved in selling tickets at a profit. Leoz and Warner both completely deny any wrongdoing.

Furthermore, former FIFA president Joao Havelange has also been accused by BBC’s Panorama of taking bribes from ISMM/ISL.

This is unlikely to be the end of the controversy because the identity of the person who repaid £1.1m (€1.65m) to ISL’s bank account two years ago – well after the company had gone into liquidation – may soon emerge.