FIFA Corruption Scandal Public Relations Cases Background -FIFA is an international soccer league in Zurich, Switzerland and has 6 districts. -This league was founded in 1904 and has 209 members in its organization. -Negative implications for this organization began in 2002. ● Michel Zen-Ruffinen, former General Secretary, submitted a dossier (collection of relevant documents) to Swiss authority on behalf of committee members (NY Times, 2015). -Jack Warner, The President of Trinidad and Tobago soccer federation, was charged for fraud in 2006 (NY Times, 2015). Main Issue Main Issue -14 FIFA Officials were indicted with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, along with several other wrongdoings, May 2015 (justice.gov, 2015). -The Department of Justice explains that the defendants “agreed to pay more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks and was done to obtain profitable media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments” (justice,gov, 2015). -FIFA’s President, Sepp Blatter declared his resignation on June 2nd, 2015. continued... Blatter informed the public about the organization's efforts in finding new leadership. According to an article entitled, the Rise and Fall of Sepp Blatter from NY Times, Blatter later had accusations of “suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation against him” (NY Times.com). Key Players Key Players ● FIFA President: Sepp Blatter ● Original Indicted FIFA Officials May 27th, 2015 ● United States Department of Justice/ Government -Jeffrey Webb: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member -Eduardo Li: Current FIFA executive committee member-elect -Julio Rocha: Current FIFA development officer. -Costas Takkas: Current attaché to the CONCACAF president. -Jack Warner: Former FIFA vice president and executive committee member continued... Eugenio Figueredo: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member. Rafael Esquivel: Current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation (FVF) president. José Maria Marin: Current member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments. Nicolás Leoz: Former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president. continued... Four of the defendants were sports marketing executives: Alejandro Burzaco: Controlling principal of Torneos y Competencias S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates. Aaron Davidson: President of Traffic Sports USA Inc. Hugo and Mariano Jinkis: Controlling principals of Full Play Group S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates. Convicted Individuals and Corporations José Margulies: Principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd. Daryll Warner, son of defendant Jack Warner and a former FIFA development officer Charles Blazer, the former CONCACAF general secretary and a former FIFA executive committee member José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate Daryan Warner FIFA Code of Ethics Analysis and Timeline ● One of the key defendants charged in the indictment, Chuck Blazer, had a significant impact on the initial investigation that unveiled this extensive scam. ● In the late 80’s, Blazer tried putting together a 10-team soccer league, until “executives discovered that Blazer spent their startup capital on luxury hotels and other lavish expenses” (Assael & Forrest, 2016). - This already violates key code values such as honesty and loyalty. ● In 1990, Blazer went to south to Guatemala to join CONCACAF, scheming to nominate Jack Warner for organization’s presidency to ensure his own success. Analysis and Timeline Continued... ● Warner later rewarded him with a seat in the 24-member executive committee, FIFA’s most highly regarded decision makers. - “Using his accounting degree, Blazer sent millions of dollars in CONCACAF revenue through a maze of shell companies to offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, where he owned a condo at the Atlantis resort. He also looked the other way as Warner stole millions in FIFA grants that were meant for a sports center he was building in Port of Spain” (Assael & Forrest, 2016). - Blazer not being truthful to who he represents and, as a “higher-up” in the executive committee, he undermined the responsibility of his professional duties. - Blazer also failed to disclose information and the financial interest to the public. - Blazer also misused his expertise, which in this case is his accounting degree, in order to illegally wire money for his own financial gain Analysis and Timeline Continued... ● Early 2010: After hearing a string of rumors about Eastern Europe’s political corruption, Jared Randall and Michael Gaeta pieced together a potential conclusion that Russia was bribing its way to host the 2018 World Cup (“ESPN,” 2016). ● December 2010, the FBI agents became even more suspicious after Sepp Blatter announced that Qatar won over the votes to host the 2022 World Cup. -- John Buretta pursues investigation into FIFA (“ESPN,” 2016). - “Randall and Gaeta began looking into the six regional confederations that administer FIFA's 209 members. The more they looked, the more they found a system of bribery and embezzlement in which billions of dollars in broadcasting, marketing and other fees made a global journey into the pockets of a privileged FIFA few” (Assael & Forrest, 2016). Analysis and Timeline Continued... - This highlights FIFA’s improper conduct that resulted in dishonest representation and a conflict of interest between the organization and the public’s regard. ● (According to ESPN’s timeline breakdown) - In Spring of 2011: Mohamed bin Hammam, FIFA's vice president, announced his candidacy for presidency. Three weeks before election, Warner invites him a luncheon in Trinidad. ● After the luncheon, Warner brought delegates to another area where they each found an envelope containing $40,000 in cash, which was claimed to be from bin Hammam when he traveled over (2016). Analysis and Timeline Continued... - Bribing as a political elite is (obviously) a blatant form of public distrust. - Breaches foundations of loyalty, fairness, conflicts of interest, and disclosure of information. - Hand in hand with unfair competition for other candidates running for presidency, as well as for the people who vote. ● This apparent bribery made Blazer LIVID and puts big dent in his partnership! Analysis and Timeline Continued... ● Blazer then called John Collins, a lawyer for CONCACAF, to inform him of the luncheon corruption that had occurred in Trinidad. ● This report was released eight days later which led bin Hammam to drop out of the race. ● According to sources from FOX, “He was banned for life in July 2011, but that was lifted a years later by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He denied any wrongdoing, claiming the FIFA investigations were politically motivated to protect Blatter” (2012). Analysis and Timeline Continued... - Along with violating provisions like fair competition and conflicts of interest, - Hammam also evaded responsibility in response to the ban by denying involvement and even shifted the blame on FIFA, accusing them of being favorable towards Blatter. ● In same period, Warner was forced to resign after a video leaked that showed him endorsing bribery. The BBC investigation that followed discovered three wire transfers made in 2008 from FIFA to Warner that added up to $10 million. Analysis and Timeline Continued... ● This was allegedly South Africa's way of bribing their way to host the 2010 World Cup. ● Ed Thomas from the same BBC source reported that, “The 72-year-old [Warner], who has been indicted by the US FBI for corruption, denies all claims of wrongdoing” (2015). - Warner used tactics of simple denial and blame shifting, where he accused Blazer of embezzling licensing and marketing money in response to the accusations. - As a result, it gradually steered the investigation toward Chuck Blazer. Analysis and Timeline Continued... ● Throughout Summer of 2011 - Steve Berryman, a veteran IRS agent, wanted to join in on the investigation after seeing Blazer wasn’t paying his personal income tax returns (Apuzzo, 2015). ● Berryman discovered that Blazer had embezzled millions of dollars from FIFA over the last 20 years, along with illegal wire transfers sent from two separate shell companies dating back to 1999 (as previously mentioned) - One was a $200,000 wire, and the other was a $600,000 wire. ● ESPN’s timeline breakdown states that in November 2010, Jared Randall and Berryman devised a plan to confront Blazer without the risk of him avoiding interrogation (2016). Analysis and Timeline Continued... ● When Blazer returned to his office, the agents were there waiting - Presented the evidence that confirmed Blazer’s wire fraud conspiracy and income tax evasion (2016). ● Given the allegations against him, Blazer immediately agreed to cooperate as an informant. - This would provide Blazer a potential step out of this fire. - Ironic he breached the loyalty and conflict of interest values in the start of his corrupt schemes, and then violated those same values. Analysis and Timeline Continued... - According to court documents obtained by ESPN, Blazer met with the government 19 times between Dec. 11, 2011, and Nov. 13, 2013. ● Near the end of 2013, the FBI were finally able to attain enough incriminating evidence from Blazer’s recordings to expand their list of targets. ● According to BBC, Blazer had later admitted that: “Between 2004 and 2011: - He and others