INTRODUCTION The acclamation and social status that are linked to a winning team combined with the investment in clubs with little apparent expectation of a financial return have made the industry attractive to some criminals. The European Commission (Commission)  recognises that sport can be attractive to criminals in order to launder funds due to the […]

  MOSCOW — Rafael Márquez, one of the best-known stars on Mexico’s World Cup soccer team, is a standout of the tournament in Russia. But it has nothing to do with his prowess on the field. Márquez, 39, is on a United States Treasury Department blacklist of people it says have helped launder money for […]

Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a money laundering investigation. Per El Mundo (h/t Marca), Spain’s National Court ordered the probe, and a joint task force, comprised of the civil guard and police, arrested him after the investigation indicated he “collected irregular commissions, obtained through the sale of the image […]

The indictments of the FIFA leadership provide an interesting global anti-corruption case study complete with sports, pop-culture, international intrigue, corruption at the highest levels, bribery in the millions of dollars, money laundering and racketeering not seen since the mob days of organized crime. The arrests come from years of investigation and stem from a culture […]

Key facts Swiss attorney general says ‘53 suspicious banking relations’ uncovered Investigation into 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids could take years Fifa’s Sepp Blatter and Jérôme Valcke not being ruled out of investigation Read more Swiss investigators are looking into 53 possible cases of money laundering and 104 incidents of suspicious activity in Swiss […]

The US Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) FIFA indictment may require certain banks to review any of their FIFA-related transactions, as well as test their compliance policies and procedures relating to compliance with know-your-customer and anti-money laundering laws. Background a detailed review of the 161-page FIFA indictment, unsealed on May 27, 2015, names 26 banks whose […]

At the request of U.S. authorities, Interpol Red Notices — or international wanted persons alerts — have been issued for two former FIFA officials and four corporate executives for charges including racketeering, conspiracy, and corruption. A 47-count indictment was unsealed last week in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging 14 defendants with a 24-year […]

Interpol put two top former FIFA officials on its “red notice” wanted list at the request of U.S. authorities on Wednesday as their investigation into corruption at soccer’s governing body gathered pace. South Africa confirmed it had given $10 million meant to help pay for the 2010 World Cup to a soccer official indicted last […]