Guatemalan police catch indicted Jimenenz and prepare to send him to US
January 13 – Police in Guatemala have arrested a former head of the country’s FA who has been on the run since being caught up in the US probe into football corruption.
South America
CONMEBOL’s Paraguay HQ raided as US prosecutors pursue computer records
By Mark Baber
January 8 – Law enforcement officials in Paraguay have raided the headquarters of CONMEBOL on Thursday “searching for documentation related to the granting of commercial and broadcast rights for sporting events,” according to a statement issued by state prosecutors.
Now you see him, now you don’t. Brazil’s Del Nero off on leave again
By Paul Nicholson
January 8 – Just when you thought he had gone he came back. And just when you thought he was back he is gone again. Brazilian football confederation (CBF) chief Marco Polo Del Nero is to take another 150 days of leave just two days after returning to his post.
When the music stops grab a seat. Del Nero back at Brazil’s top table
By Paul Nicholson
January 7 – The musical chairs at the top of South America’s leading football federations continued yesterday with an unusual twist. Recently the news has only been of presidents being arrested or removed from office, but this time the game changed with the return of Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) head Marco Polo Del Nero who resumed his position from Marcus Antonio Vicente.
Santos’ failure to qualify for Copa Libertadores leave club cash-strapped again
By Samindra Kunti
December 15 – Brazilian club Santos will face a 2016 season of austerity after missing out on qualification for the Copa Libertadores.
Brazilian revolution: Bom Senso movement makes bid for control
By Samindra Kunti
December 15 – Brazilian football needs its own 1992 Premier League moment – with Bom Senso that moment may have finally arrived in the country that lit up the world stage with its teams and players.
Brazil’s Ronaldo ready for call-up to lead the federation line
December 11 – Legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo says he would not rule himself out of running for the presidency of his country’s beleaguered federation to restore is battered credibility.
US round-up begins with El Salvador to hand over Vasquez, Mesnier hands himself in
December 10 – El Salvador’s Supreme Court has approved the extradition of the country’s former football federation president Reynaldo Vasquez (pictured), one of those wanted in the United States in connection with the widespread racketeering and bribery scandal.
Brazil pushes itself forward as football technology test-bed
By Samindra Kunti
December 9 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) wants Brazilian football to become a laboratory for the use of new technologies in the game. Fernando Sarney, who has filled Marco Polo del Nero’s position on FIFA’s executive committee, will seek support from FIFA in the next months to implement CBF’s vision.
Brazilian players protest as del Nero prepares his defence
December 8 – Marco Polo del Nero, embattled president of the Brazilian football federation, has begun his leave of absence to prepare his defense against wide-ranging corruption charges.
CBF takes tentative steps towards Euro-style FFP
By Samindra Kunti
December 8 – Brazil’s CBF wants to introduce a copy of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play into the Brazilian domestic league in a bid to clean up the wobbly finances of Brazilian clubs.
Just Deny It: Nike knows nothing about bribes, but it did pay Traffic affiliate $40m
By Mark Baber
December 7 – In the wake of last Thursday’s superseding indictment, issued by the US Department of Justice, in the FIFA corruption cases, Sportswear company Nike has once again issued a statement to the effect that it is cooperating fully with authorities and to insist its officials were not aware of any bribery or wrongdoing in connection with the millions the company sent to a Swiss bank account.
Ecuador’s Chiriboga and Peru’s Burga in custody as US chases extradition
December 7 – The head of Ecuador’s football federation, one of 16 officials newly charged with corruption by US authorities, has turned himself in to authorities in his home country in the knowledge that it does not extradite its nationals.
Brazil seeks new path to corruption-free glory with Vicente appointment
By Samindra Kunti
December 7 – Marcus Antonio Vicente is the new president of the Brazilian Football Association CBF. He assumed the position on an interim basis after Marco Polo Del Nero was indicted by the FBI last week.
Del Nero now faces FIFA probe into ethics violations
By Samindra Kunti
December 3 – FIFA’s ethics committee has begun an investigation into the Brazilian FA (CBF) president Marco Polo Del Nero. If guilty Del Nero can expected to be added to an increasingly long list of south American football chiefs either suspended or banned from all football-related activities.