Because they can, and they didn't like that someone else outbided them in the classic bribery and kickbacks game for the World Cup, I guess.
FIFA has become embroiled in the biggest corruption case in its history as its 2015 annual meeting was torpedoed by an early-morning raid on the host hotel, a separate raid on its headquarters and the arrest of some officials and sports industry representatives.
FIFA being the most popular sport in the world and a multibillion-dollar business, has been regularly accused of bribery and kickbacks, allegations that reached its peek after it awarded Russia and Qatar the World Cup in 2018 and 2022.
So who is the bad guy here; FIFA being corrupt, or the U.S. playing the good guy, when loosing within the game of corruption?
FIFAs head-office is in Switzerland, what is Switzerland known for… discretion, and what is the favorite target of US Department of Justice… Switzerland. Then we have the US body of FIFA; the “Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football” based in Cayman Islands, being a non-profit company which reported itself to US tax authorities, what is Cayman Islands known for… money laundering…
Bank of America, UBS, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, HSBC, and Julius Baer in Zurich were named in a US indictment. US officials said that at least $151 million was funneled through “complex” money laundering schemes via Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands, and Switzerland.
Should FBI investigate the Olympic Games now, since they are accused of bribery and kickbacks as well?
The FIFA fiasco proves it’s time to dismantle the multibillion-dollar sports-edifices, and it’s time for the sport-industry to think twice before investing their money in sports-edifices.
From left to right: Rafael Esquivel, José Maria Marin, Eduardo Li, Eugenio Figueredo, Nicolás Leoz, Jack Warner, Jeffrey Webb, Julio Rocha. Photograph: EPA