By Andrew Warshaw
August 24 – The Swiss probe into possible money-laundering linked to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process has now uncovered more than 100 incidents of “suspicious financial activity” according to the Swiss attorney general’s office.
Last month, the investigation flagged up another 28 acts of possible wrongdoing received since June, bringing the total to 81, but that figure has now risen again.
In recent weeks, the Swiss enquiry has played second fiddle to the separate FBI investigation that led to a string of high-profile arrests, including nine major football and sports marketing officials, but the latest update indicates the scale of potential wrongdoing by individuals involved in the bid process, whether they be voting FIFA members, intermediaries or sports marketers. “I can confirm that the OAG received so far 103 suspicious financial activity reports regarding the allocation of the Football World Cup 2018 and 2022,” a spokesman said in an email to Reuters.
Whether the Swiss investigation can lead to any prosecutions is still open to question. Under Swiss law, private corruption is not automatically punishable. Action is taken only when a specific complaint is made.
Nevertheless, news of the additional reports comes at a sensitive time for FIFA as it attempts to put in place a raft of wide-ranging reforms. Last week, a group of FIFA’s front-line sponsors held an unprecedented meeting with the organisation and “reiterated our expectations for robust reform.”
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