Brazilian fraud squad launch Teixeira money laundering inquiry

By David Gold

October 18 – An inquiry has been opened into the affairs of under fire Brazilian football chief Ricardo Teixeira, over allegations that he was involved in money laundering, the chief of the country’s fraud squad confirmed today.

Vitor Poubel, head of Delefin, announced that they were investigating the head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) as well as his brother, Guilherme.

The allegations relate to money channelled into Brazilian accounts from a Liechtenstein based company, Sanud, which received $9.5 million (£6 million/€6.9 million) from ISL, the now bankrupt former marketing partner of FIFA.

Teixeira had already been under investigation by Brazilian police, but the fraud inquiry was announced after a request by federal prosecutor Marcelo Freire.

A former son-in-law of ex-FIFA President João Havelange, Teixeira is also the head of the Organising Committee for the World Cup being held in Brazil in 2014, and he has been heavily criticised in Brazil for accumulating such vast powers.

Former Brazilian legend Romário, who is now a member of the country’s Congress, has called for him to relinquish some of his powers, whilst President Dilma Rousseff has reportedly frozen Teixeira out of negotiations with FIFA over a World Cup law currently being considered by legislators.

At the end of August, a series of match day protests were organised by twenty separate supporters groups, including that of Brasileiro leaders Corinthians, calling on him to leave his role at the head of the World Cup Organising Committee, which has been dogged by delays in the renovation of stadia and improving infrastructure across the country.

Teixeira also caused a storm by not inviting Pelé, considered the country’s greatest ever player, to the World Cup draw in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, forcing the government to intervene to ensure he was present at the ceremony.

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1738748698labto1738748698ofdlr1738748698owedi1738748698sni@d1738748698log.d1738748698ivad1738748698