FIFA’s ethics fut coins committee has delivered

FIFA’s ethics fut coins committee has delivered its report into the bribery scandal involving collapsed marketing partner ISL. These are the key findings:

lBribes were paid to former Fifa president Joao Havelange, his [former] son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira and Nicolas Leoz between 1992 and 2000. These are described in the report as “not inconsiderable amounts”.

lCourt documents state Havelange received at least £1m, Teixeira at least £8.4m, and, in total, the Brazilian pair may have received up to £14.5m. Leoz, from Paraguay, was named in court as having received at least £80,000.

lFifa president Sepp Blatter’s role in the handling of the scandal is questioned. The report states: “It must be questioned, however, whether president Blatter knew or should have known over the years before the bankruptcy of ISL that ISL had made payments [bribes] to other FIFA officials.”

lBlatter, Fifa general secretary at the time, authorised the transfer of 1.5m Swiss francs (£1m) to www.eafutcoins.co.uk Havelange after ISL mistakenly sent it to Fifa. He told investigators he did not realise it was a bribe.