FIFA’s association with corruption is as well-known as the pairing of peanut butter and jelly. Even those who aren’t soccer enthusiasts are likely familiar with the 2015 scandal where top FIFA officials accepted $150 million in bribes to sway the World Cup hosting decisions.
FIFA’s reputation as one of the world’s most corrupt organizations is well established, making the alliance between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino unsurprising.
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In a surprising turn, Trump managed to make the FIFA convictions vanish, prompting House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin to initiate a corruption investigation.
Raskin addressed a letter to Infantino, outlining what appears to be a bribery scheme:
The Department of Justice’s unexpected decision becomes more understandable when considering FIFA’s bold efforts to win favor with Donald Trump following his re-election. This campaign has yielded significant benefits for FIFA, coinciding with North America’s first joint World Cup. In the past 18 months, a fictitious “FIFA Peace Prize” was created to honor President Trump, who has openly expressed his desire for a Nobel Peace Prize. Additionally, an office space was leased on the 17th floor of Trump Tower, valued at $600,000 annually, but only used for the 39-day World Cup period, costing over $15,000 daily.
These maneuvers seem intended to sway President Trump and his administration to act in FIFA’s favor. Even Sepp Blatter, Infantino’s predecessor who was suspended amidst the bribery scandal, observed that this prolonged campaign aimed at influencing the President, humorously noting that “Infantino thinks he’s the leader in the relationship.” Such blatant bribery tactics are familiar to your organization.
