FIFA Bribery Scandal Spreads

World soccer governing body FIFA remained silent yesterday over fresh allegations of bribery and corruption leveled against three members of its executive committee.

FIFA

CAF president Issa Hayatou, Brazil Football Federation president Ricardo Teixeira and Nicholas Leoz of Paraguay were named in the latest scandal, which alleged that the men received illegal payments from a FIFA marketing agency ISL.

African football officials still reeling from the suspension of Amos Adamu from FIFA over the same issue were shocked to find out that Hayatou was also named in the latest allegation that could spark a leadership crisis in CAF.
FIFA had  suspended four former members of

its executive committee for between two and four years. They include Ismael Bhamjee of Botswana, Mali’s Amadou Diakite   Ahongalu Fusimalohi of Tonga and Tunisia’s Slim Aloulou.

Two European newspapers claimed yesterday that they have documents in their possession that detailed wrong doings by the three FIFA executives. The reports say the men received kickbacks from ISL from 1988_99. ISL went bust in 2001.

The allegation is coming two days before the trio are to take part in FIFA’s vote on the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Earlier in the month, Dr. Adamu and Reynald Temarii were suspended by FIFA, after the ethics committee sat on allegations that both men offered to sell their votes in the December 3 voting.