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Corruption at FIFA Worldwide

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Corruption at FIFA Worldwide EthicalMUN II FIFA Committee on Corruption and Transparency Chairs: Zachary Zemmel and Cal Gelernt Crisis Director: Anton Van Schaik EthicalMUN II Dear Delegates, Welcome to EthicalMUN II! Specifically, welcome to the FIFA Crisis Committee. We hope that this committee will provide all of you with an interesting debate about the world’s most popular (and in our opinion, greatest) sport. Over the course of the Theo Dassin coming weekend, we will examine issues that surround not only the sport in general; Co-Secretary General the global politics that surround soccer (football) will be discussed passionately too. For this reason, many interesting characters from both the political and sporting Iva Knezevic sides of football will be portrayed. We hope to see you all are looking forward to the Co-Secretary General conference as much as we are. Alex Keswani The purpose of this background guide is to help you in your research for this crisis Chief of Staff committee; it has a comprehensive summary of each of the characters and their positions. Additionally, it contains a detailed history of the subject. This being said, Ryan Kelly it is not sufficient for your research on the topic. For this reason, you must do your Vice-Secretary of own individual research to prepare for this committee. Finally, the questions to Committees consider are particularly important in this committee, and you are encouraged to do your research and construct your position papers around the questions specifically. Olivia Becker Vice-Secretary of This is a crisis committee and you should be prepared for the possible issues that Administration Anton, our crisis director, will create. It important to note that our committee is technically a historical committee as we begin on February 1, 2018. This Halle Friedman committee will not be acting as any particular branch of FIFA. Rather, it has brought current and former FIFA officials, governmental representatives, and important Vice-Secretary of people in the football world to discuss (and possibly punish) violations of different Outreach laws, statutes, and codes related to corruption and transparency. Additionally, this committee will look to find methods to stop corrupt practices and increase Leilani Elkaslasy transparency in the future. Community Service Director This committee will use the standard crisis committee parliamentary procedure. Due to the nature of this committee, it is impossible to know the length of time for which Abby Gewirtz each topic is discussed in advance. Therefore, you should be prepared for Director of Photography substantive debates and discussions on all topics mentioned in this background guide. Prez Thomas, Ben Kaiser, Max Zalta, Please note: Descriptions were not written about Swiss and American and David Runte government officials as they will represent the interests of their entire Senior Staff government, rather than themselves. If you have any questions about this committee, please email us. Best, Zachary Zemmel ([email protected]), Cal Gelernt ([email protected]) Co-Chairs FIFA Crisis Committee FIFA EthicalMUN II Crisis General History of FIFA On the 21st of May, 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded with the intention of promoting the game of football internationally and creating a unified set of laws surrounding how the game was played. FIFA began as an organization that solely governed Europe. However, it started to expand out of the continent as early as 1909. Figure 1: FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland Unfortunately, the First World War put a halt on FIFA’s operations and most sport Corruption at FIFA worldwide. This meant that FIFA’s congress Allegations of FIFA’s corruption first began would not meet for another seven years.1 during João Havelange’s presidency when Nonetheless, Uruguay hosted the first FIFA Swiss court documents implicated him and World Cup in 1930 with much financial his son in law, Ricardo Teixeira, in success even though only four European receiving kickbacks from a marketing nations competed (the most notable company, ISL. Since then, numerous cases establishments of football were in Europe at of corruption in FIFA have been uncovered, the time). Although the outbreak of World including cases of match-fixing. In 2015, the War II occurred only nine years after the United States and Switzerland began first World Cup, FIFA had doubled in size investigations into FIFA corruption. In May, since 1921. Around 1970, FIFA president seven FIFA officials were arrested by Swiss Dr. Joao Havelange started to use FIFA as a Police on behalf of the United States and its tool to “[promote] technical development ongoing FBI investigation into FIFA. Then, worldwide” as opposed to pure competition. on December 3, 2015, 23 FIFA officials Additionally, Havelange used the were indicted on a combined total of 92 organization to promote diplomacy between criminal charges, including fraud and nations that continued into the presidency of racketeering. Bribery was not one of the Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter.2 charges listed, however, the prosecutors stated they were looking into the World Cup 1 FIFA EthicalMUN II Crisis bidding process. The Indictments allege that In 2013, Chuck Blazer, the second-in- the criminal schemes lasted 24 years. FIFA command at The Confederation of North, and President Sepp Blatter have denied the Central American and Caribbean allegations. Although Blatter defeated Association Football (CONCACAF) plead Prince Ali bin Hussein in the FIFA 2015 guilty to corruption charges. Blazer was election, Blatter resigned on June 2, 2015, granted immunity in exchange for becoming amid the scandal. He was subsequently an informant to the FBI and the US banned from any soccer-related activities for Department of Justice (DOJ) in exchange for eight years.3 providing information about illegal FIFA activities taking place on American soil.5 Role of the Swiss Government From Blazer’s testimony, the US FIFA is headquartered in Zurich, Government learned that Jeffery Webb, the Switzerland. Therefore, the Swiss head of CONCACAF and former Vice government has jurisdiction over much of President of FIFA, was taking bribes from the area in which crimes were being sports marketing officials. This bribery, in committed by FIFA officials. In 2015, Swiss the form of $110 million, the DOJ learned, police raided the Baur au Lac Hotel in resulted in the US hosting the 2016 Copa Zurich and arrested seven FIFA officials. América. These officials were extradited to the United The FBI and DOJ are still continuing with States because the arrests were part of an their investigations. Nonetheless, nine FIFA FBI investigation into the corruption officials and five corporate executives have allegations made against FIFA.4 been indicted by the United States government for conspiracy, racketeering, Role of the U.S Government and corruption.6 The United States Government continues plays a large role in the prosecution of FIFA officials. This is because many of the crimes committed by FIFA officials involved the US banking system. 2 FIFA EthicalMUN II Crisis Questions to Consider: 1. Should those who oversaw corruption at FIFA be held responsible? How so? a. If they are to be prosecuted criminally, noting the lack of enforcing power this committee has, how can it try those who have been accused of wrongdoing? 2. Given the issues surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, how can the World Cup bidding process be improved in terms of transparency? a. Given the human rights issues that have arisen, should Russia and Qatar even be permitted to keep the World Cup? i. How can these issues be better addressed in the future? 3. How should FIFA restructure to better prevent corruption? a. Should an independent overseer be created? b. Should it disband entirely? 3 FIFA EthicalMUN II Crisis Portfolio Powers entities like banks in the US), has voting rights. Swiss Government Michael Lauber (Attorney General) Can choose to prosecute anyone if he can Non-Governmental Officials demonstrate probable cause (to the chairs) of Gianni Infantino (President of FIFA) a crime being committed by them in Swiss Gianni Infantino is the Swiss/Italian current territory (or when interacting with Swiss president of FIFA. He assumed the office on entities like banks in Switzerland), has February 26, 2016. Although he campaigned voting rights. for the position on the promise of decreasing corruption, he has been involved in scandals Simonetta Sommaruga (Federal himself. Firstly, he was heavily criticized Councilor - Head - of Federal Department when he suddenly removed Cornel Borbély, of Justice and Police) Can call for police raids on Swiss territory, the former head of the Investigatory can make arrests on Swiss territory, can Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Board, along choose to accept or deny warrant requests by with other Ethics Board members who were other Swiss government officials for police investigating him for malpractice. This raids or arrests (all with probable cause as investigation was concerned with the determined by the chairs), has voting rights. allegations that he tried to influence a Confederation of African Football (CAF) 7 Guy Parmelin (Head of Federal presidential election. The other main Department of Defense, Civil Protection, criticism surrounding Infantino’s supposed and Sport) Can direct Swiss military, make decisions lack of transparency comes from his about Swiss governance of sport, has voting involvement in the Mossack Fonseca rights. “Panama Papers”
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