The murky world of football corruption will again be in the spotlight tonight when Panorama reveal that the FBI are investigating the role played by Sepp Blatter in a $100m US bribe relating to World Cup marketing rights.
A number of FIFA officials have already been held under investigation by the US authorities with blue chip sponsors pulling out rather than be associated with a game mired in corruption.
News of the $100m US bribe has emerged after investigations into how International Sport and Leisure (ISL) were given the contract to market FIFA events including the World Cup.
Former FIFA president Joao Havelange and leading FIFA executive Ricardo Teixeira are expected to be named in the programme with both men heavily linked to Blatter.
The investigation into ISL is running in parallel with allegations that the vote for the staging of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals was rigged.
Qatar are alleged to have spent £117m on their bid to stage the 2022 which was won ahead of bids from England, Australia and the USA.
Gary Lineker and David Beckham were called in to lead the English bid but despite numerous promises they lost out to Qatar.
Speaking on tonight’s programme Lineker said: “It makes me feel nauseous at the levels of corruption in a sport that has been a huge part of my life and is a huge part of many people’s lives right around the world.
“Part of me hopes that with everything being so clearly rotten, that we can come out and somehow start again and, and correct it. ”
The programme starts tonight on BBC1 at 8.30pm.
Deary,Deary me, by my count thats over thirty arrested at FIFA, that institution has got to be completely dismantled, UEFA ? SFA? Cycling, Athletics, and the F.A, only spent circa 23 mill. along with a team including Royalty, Golden Baws and Greg Dyke to plead there case. Do you think that the World has changed and that people no longer are prepared to put up with corruption? I hope so wath this space, 3 cheers for the F.B.I. cmon big Mike kick them where it hurts,OOF.
Really hope big Mike goes ahead with proceedings against the SFA, with King’s fit and proper (shameless liar anywhere else ) decision. Expose them for what they are, corrupt.
HH
Fair play !
Every chump and his dog are lapping all the BBC news about FIFA and don’t see why the USA are leading the charge despite them being the masters of corruption. They’ll soon put their own puppets in and play politics with Russia and others on who gets to play with their ball.