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| Fifa corruption crisis: the key figures in the controversy | Fifa corruption crisis: the key figures in the controversy |
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| Fifa has become embroiled in the biggest corruption case in its history as its 2015 annual meeting was torpedoed by an early-morning raid on the host hotel, a separate raid on its headquarters and the arrest of a string of officials and sports industry representatives. | Fifa has become embroiled in the biggest corruption case in its history as its 2015 annual meeting was torpedoed by an early-morning raid on the host hotel, a separate raid on its headquarters and the arrest of a string of officials and sports industry representatives. |
| Nine officials were arrested in connection with a years-long investigation by US federal authorities, with seven detained at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, Switzerland. | Nine officials were arrested in connection with a years-long investigation by US federal authorities, with seven detained at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, Switzerland. |
| Swiss federal officials also said they wanted to question 10 Fifa executive committee members over the awards of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. | |
| Fifa officials arrested | Fifa officials arrested |
| Jack Warner | Jack Warner |
| The former president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), was one of the Fifa officials arrested on Wednesday. He resigned from all of his positions in international football in June 2011, shortly after being implicated in numerous corruption allegations dating back to the 1980s. Warner, 72, was also a member of Fifa’s executive committee which, among other things, decides the dates, locations and format of world football tournaments. | The former president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), was one of the Fifa officials arrested on Wednesday. He resigned from all of his positions in international football in June 2011, shortly after being implicated in numerous corruption allegations dating back to the 1980s. Warner, 72, was also a member of Fifa’s executive committee which, among other things, decides the dates, locations and format of world football tournaments. |
| Jeffrey Webb | Jeffrey Webb |
| The 50-year-old is the president of Concacaf and a Fifa vice-president. He was arrested by Swiss police on behalf of US authorities. A former lawyer, Webb became president of the Cayman Islands Football Association at the age of 26. In September 2014, Webb was one of several Fifa officials to call for the publication of the Garcia report into claims of corruption surrounding Russia and Qatar’s bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. | |
| Eugenio Figueredo | Eugenio Figueredo |
| One of Fifa’s vice-presidents and an executive committee member, the former footballer, 83, was arrested as part of the corruption investigation by US authorities. From 2013 to 2014 he was president of the South American football confederation, Conmebol. | One of Fifa’s vice-presidents and an executive committee member, the former footballer, 83, was arrested as part of the corruption investigation by US authorities. From 2013 to 2014 he was president of the South American football confederation, Conmebol. |
| Eduardo Li | Eduardo Li |
| The 56-year-old is a Fifa executive committee member-elect. The little-known official is also a Concacaf executive committee member and the president of the Costa Rican soccer federation (Fedefutbol). The New York Times reported that he was led from his room to a side-door exit of the hotel when he was arrested in Zurich. | The 56-year-old is a Fifa executive committee member-elect. The little-known official is also a Concacaf executive committee member and the president of the Costa Rican soccer federation (Fedefutbol). The New York Times reported that he was led from his room to a side-door exit of the hotel when he was arrested in Zurich. |
| Julio Rocha | Julio Rocha |
| Fifa’s development officer, 64, was born in Nicaragua and was once the president of the country’s football federation and headed the Central American Football Union (UNCAF). He was also arrested in Zurich. | Fifa’s development officer, 64, was born in Nicaragua and was once the president of the country’s football federation and headed the Central American Football Union (UNCAF). He was also arrested in Zurich. |
| Rafael Esquivel | Rafael Esquivel |
| The president of the Venezuelan Football Federation and Conmebol executive committee member, 68, was arrested by Swiss police over the corruption allegations. | The president of the Venezuelan Football Federation and Conmebol executive committee member, 68, was arrested by Swiss police over the corruption allegations. |
| José Maria Marin | José Maria Marin |
| The ex-president of the Brazilian Football Confederation is now a member of the Fifa organising committee for the Olympic football tournaments. The 83-year-old was arrested as part of the corruption allegations. | The ex-president of the Brazilian Football Confederation is now a member of the Fifa organising committee for the Olympic football tournaments. The 83-year-old was arrested as part of the corruption allegations. |
| Costas Takkas | Costas Takkas |
| The 58-year-old former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association, is currently an attaché to the Concacaf president Jeffrey Webb. | The 58-year-old former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association, is currently an attaché to the Concacaf president Jeffrey Webb. |
| Nicolás Leoz | Nicolás Leoz |
| The 87-year-old led Conmebol from 1986-2013. He resigned from Fifa’s executive committee in 2013 just before the Garcia report was to be made public, citing health and personal reasons. | The 87-year-old led Conmebol from 1986-2013. He resigned from Fifa’s executive committee in 2013 just before the Garcia report was to be made public, citing health and personal reasons. |
| Related: Fifa corruption arrests: key questions answered | Related: Fifa corruption arrests: key questions answered |
| Ten more Fifa officials sought for questioning | Ten more Fifa officials sought for questioning |
| Issa Hayatou | Issa Hayatou |
| The Cameroonian official, who heads the Confederation of African Football, has been a Fifa executive since 1990, sitting on a number of its committees including that concerning the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The former PE teacher was among officials who allegedly received bribes for voting for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup, according to a Sunday Times investigation. He dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous”. | The Cameroonian official, who heads the Confederation of African Football, has been a Fifa executive since 1990, sitting on a number of its committees including that concerning the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The former PE teacher was among officials who allegedly received bribes for voting for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup, according to a Sunday Times investigation. He dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous”. |
| Ángel María Villar Llona | Ángel María Villar Llona |
| The president of the Spanish Football Federation, 65, used to play for Athletic Bilbao and is a member of Fifa’s executive committee and organising committee for the World Cup. He led Spain-Portugal’s bid for the 2022 World Cup and faced questions over alleged vote-swapping by his team and the Qataris, who won the bid. Both bids denied any collusion. | The president of the Spanish Football Federation, 65, used to play for Athletic Bilbao and is a member of Fifa’s executive committee and organising committee for the World Cup. He led Spain-Portugal’s bid for the 2022 World Cup and faced questions over alleged vote-swapping by his team and the Qataris, who won the bid. Both bids denied any collusion. |
| Michel D’Hooghe | Michel D’Hooghe |
| The honorary president of the Belgium Football Association has been a member of Fifa’s executive committee since 1988 and is also president of the Belgian club FC Bruges. A trained doctor, the 70-year-old is Fifa’s chief medical officer. D’Hooghe revealed in August 2011 that he accepted an expensive painting from an adviser to Russia’s 2018 bid. He later said it had no value and was a “poisonous gift”. He also said that his son Pieter’s move to take up a job as surgeon in Qatar’s Aspetar sports medicine hospital was entirely unrelated. | The honorary president of the Belgium Football Association has been a member of Fifa’s executive committee since 1988 and is also president of the Belgian club FC Bruges. A trained doctor, the 70-year-old is Fifa’s chief medical officer. D’Hooghe revealed in August 2011 that he accepted an expensive painting from an adviser to Russia’s 2018 bid. He later said it had no value and was a “poisonous gift”. He also said that his son Pieter’s move to take up a job as surgeon in Qatar’s Aspetar sports medicine hospital was entirely unrelated. |
| Şenes Erzik | Şenes Erzik |
| The honorary president of the Turkish Football Association, has been a Fifa executive committee member for two decades. A banker and a former project manager for Unicef, Erzik was also vice-president of Uefa’s referees committee. | The honorary president of the Turkish Football Association, has been a Fifa executive committee member for two decades. A banker and a former project manager for Unicef, Erzik was also vice-president of Uefa’s referees committee. |
| Worawi Makudi | Worawi Makudi |
| President of the Thailand Football Association, Makudi was expected to be questioned by Michael Garcia, the lawyer who compiled a report into the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, over his involvement in a gas deal between his country and Qatar, which was completed shortly before the vote for the 2022 World Cup was held in 2010. Lord Triesman, former chairman of the FA, raised allegations that Makudi demanded television rights to a friendly between England and Thailand in return for his vote. The Thai official attempted to sue Triesman over the allegation, which was made under parliamentary privilege, but was unsuccessful. | President of the Thailand Football Association, Makudi was expected to be questioned by Michael Garcia, the lawyer who compiled a report into the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, over his involvement in a gas deal between his country and Qatar, which was completed shortly before the vote for the 2022 World Cup was held in 2010. Lord Triesman, former chairman of the FA, raised allegations that Makudi demanded television rights to a friendly between England and Thailand in return for his vote. The Thai official attempted to sue Triesman over the allegation, which was made under parliamentary privilege, but was unsuccessful. |
| Marios Lefkaritis | Marios Lefkaritis |
| The businessman is the Cypriot member of Fifa’s executive committee and the honorary president of the Cyprus FA and a Uefa vice-president. He lists “recent allegations for corruption” on his official Fifa biography under the question: “What has been your biggest disappointment in football?” An investigation by the Sunday Times alleged last November that Lefkaritis’s family was paid £27m for a strip of land by the Qatar Investment Authority. Lefkaritis “strongly” denies his vote was influenced by any commercial consideration and said the transaction was properly documented at the Cyprus land and company registries. | The businessman is the Cypriot member of Fifa’s executive committee and the honorary president of the Cyprus FA and a Uefa vice-president. He lists “recent allegations for corruption” on his official Fifa biography under the question: “What has been your biggest disappointment in football?” An investigation by the Sunday Times alleged last November that Lefkaritis’s family was paid £27m for a strip of land by the Qatar Investment Authority. Lefkaritis “strongly” denies his vote was influenced by any commercial consideration and said the transaction was properly documented at the Cyprus land and company registries. |
| Jacques Anouma | Jacques Anouma |
| Fifa’s executive committee member for Ivory Coast has held the role since 2007 and has been president of the Ivorian FA since 2002. In June last year, his federation reportedly received hundreds of thousands of US dollars from private slush funds allegedly controlled by Qatari football chief Mohamed bin Hammam. | Fifa’s executive committee member for Ivory Coast has held the role since 2007 and has been president of the Ivorian FA since 2002. In June last year, his federation reportedly received hundreds of thousands of US dollars from private slush funds allegedly controlled by Qatari football chief Mohamed bin Hammam. |
| Related: Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges as World Cup inquiry launched | Related: Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges as World Cup inquiry launched |
| Rafael Salguero | Rafael Salguero |
| The Guatemalan member of Fifa’s executive committee, the former footballer has been a member and vice-chairman of Concacaf since 1986. Before the World Cup vote, Salguero declined to commit to backing the US bid for the 2022 World Cup despite representing the same confederation. | The Guatemalan member of Fifa’s executive committee, the former footballer has been a member and vice-chairman of Concacaf since 1986. Before the World Cup vote, Salguero declined to commit to backing the US bid for the 2022 World Cup despite representing the same confederation. |
| Hany Abo Rida | Hany Abo Rida |
| The retired footballer represents Egypt on Fifa’s executive committee. The 62-year-old is vice-president of the Egyptian FA and an executive committee member of the Confederation Africaine de Football, the governing body for football in Africa. Along with Thailand’s Worawi Makudi, Rida was last year named as one of bin Hammam’s chief sidekicks. | The retired footballer represents Egypt on Fifa’s executive committee. The 62-year-old is vice-president of the Egyptian FA and an executive committee member of the Confederation Africaine de Football, the governing body for football in Africa. Along with Thailand’s Worawi Makudi, Rida was last year named as one of bin Hammam’s chief sidekicks. |
| Vitaly Mutko | Vitaly Mutko |
| Russia’s sports minister and the man charged with delivering the 2018 World Cup was chair of Moscow’s 2018 bid committee in 2010. Emails obtained by the Sunday Times last year showed that, a month before the World Cup bids vote, Russia invited bin Hammam to Moscow to discuss “bilateral relations”. Mutko hailed the meeting in leaked correspondence as “a chance to further promote bilateral relations between our nations in the areas of sport”. | Russia’s sports minister and the man charged with delivering the 2018 World Cup was chair of Moscow’s 2018 bid committee in 2010. Emails obtained by the Sunday Times last year showed that, a month before the World Cup bids vote, Russia invited bin Hammam to Moscow to discuss “bilateral relations”. Mutko hailed the meeting in leaked correspondence as “a chance to further promote bilateral relations between our nations in the areas of sport”. |
| Related figures | Related figures |
| Sepp Blatter | Sepp Blatter |
| Fifa’s president since June 1998, Blatter’s tenure has been dogged by controversy. The 79-year-old former amateur footballer has constantly dismissed criticism of his rule, even as the swirl of corruption allegations surrounding Fifa grew enormously in recent years. He was widely expected to win a fifth presidential term on Friday, with Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein the only rival candidate after the withdrawal of Luís Figo and Michael van Praag. He was not among the nine Fifa officials detained by Swiss police on Wednesday. | Fifa’s president since June 1998, Blatter’s tenure has been dogged by controversy. The 79-year-old former amateur footballer has constantly dismissed criticism of his rule, even as the swirl of corruption allegations surrounding Fifa grew enormously in recent years. He was widely expected to win a fifth presidential term on Friday, with Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein the only rival candidate after the withdrawal of Luís Figo and Michael van Praag. He was not among the nine Fifa officials detained by Swiss police on Wednesday. |
| Chuck Blazer | Chuck Blazer |
| A former Fifa executive committee member, Blazer is said to have been closely cooperating with the FBI investigation into corruption in world football’s governing body. It was reported last November that he had secretly recorded Fifa executives for US investigators using a keychain fitted with a covert recording device. On Wednesday, hours after a number of his fellow officials were arrested, US prosecutors revealed Blazer pleaded guilty to a string of corruption charges in November 2013. The former Concacaf general secretary, nicknamed Mr Ten Percent after striking a lucrative contract with the US football body, is now facing up to 15 years in jail. | A former Fifa executive committee member, Blazer is said to have been closely cooperating with the FBI investigation into corruption in world football’s governing body. It was reported last November that he had secretly recorded Fifa executives for US investigators using a keychain fitted with a covert recording device. On Wednesday, hours after a number of his fellow officials were arrested, US prosecutors revealed Blazer pleaded guilty to a string of corruption charges in November 2013. The former Concacaf general secretary, nicknamed Mr Ten Percent after striking a lucrative contract with the US football body, is now facing up to 15 years in jail. |
| Daryl and Daryan Warner | Daryl and Daryan Warner |
| The two sons of Jack Warner pleaded guilty in July and October 2013 respectively to corruption charges. In March last year, a Telegraph investigation alleged that Warner’s family were paid almost $2m (£1.2m) from a Qatari firm linked to the country’s successful bid for the 2022 World Cup. Daryan, 46, who lives in Miami, was said to have been helping the FBI inquiry as a cooperating witness. | The two sons of Jack Warner pleaded guilty in July and October 2013 respectively to corruption charges. In March last year, a Telegraph investigation alleged that Warner’s family were paid almost $2m (£1.2m) from a Qatari firm linked to the country’s successful bid for the 2022 World Cup. Daryan, 46, who lives in Miami, was said to have been helping the FBI inquiry as a cooperating witness. |
| José Hawilla | José Hawilla |
| The 71-year-old is the owner and founder of the Brazilian sports management giant Traffic Group. He pleaded guilty on 12 December 2014 to corruption charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. Aaron Davidson, the president of Hawilla’s Florida-based company Traffic Sports USA, was among the 14 suspects detained on Wednesday. The US Department of Justice said Hawilla also agreed to forfeit over $151m, $25m of which was paid at the time of his plea. | The 71-year-old is the owner and founder of the Brazilian sports management giant Traffic Group. He pleaded guilty on 12 December 2014 to corruption charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. Aaron Davidson, the president of Hawilla’s Florida-based company Traffic Sports USA, was among the 14 suspects detained on Wednesday. The US Department of Justice said Hawilla also agreed to forfeit over $151m, $25m of which was paid at the time of his plea. |