The U.S. Department of Justice is granting FIFA, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL $201 million in forfeited funds six years after the sport’s biggest corruption scandal.
In 2015, FIFA executives were arrested for bribery, racketeering, and money laundering, and the stolen money was seized.
Fourteen men were arrested in May of that year, but more than 40 administrators and executives have been indicted since then. El Salvador FA president Reynaldo Vasquez pleaded guilty to fraud charges earlier this week, the 27th man to do so in the case.
FIFA has been working to amend its reputation ever since.
“Thanks to their intervention, we have been able to fundamentally change FIFA from a toxic organization…to a highly esteemed and trusted global sports governing body,” said current FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
- An independent board will make the decisions on how to allocate the funds, with the goal of having a positive impact on communities and the sport.
- The DOJ said an initial distribution of $32.3 million in forfeited funds has been approved.
FIFA recorded a net loss of $683 million in 2020, with revenue down 65% due to COVID-19 cancellations.
