Cases · Soccer · 2015–2022
FIFA Corruption: The 2015 U.S. Indictments
On May 27, 2015, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed a 47-count racketeering indictment against 14 defendants, including senior FIFA officials and sports-marketing executives. Prosecutors alleged decades of bribes and kickbacks tied to media and marketing rights for soccer tournaments. Swiss police arrested seven officials in Zurich ahead of the FIFA Congress. FIFA President Sepp Blatter was re-elected days later, then announced his resignation. A December 2015 superseding indictment charged 16 more defendants. The case produced guilty pleas and trial convictions, and FIFA's ethics bodies banned Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini.
Timeline
- The DOJ unseals a 47-count indictment against nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives, and seven are arrested in Zurich. Swiss prosecutors separately open proceedings related to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards.
- Blatter is re-elected FIFA president, then announces four days later that he will step down.
- A 92-count superseding indictment charges 16 additional defendants, including sitting and former confederation presidents.
- FIFA's ethics committee bans Blatter and Platini from football for eight years. The bans are later reduced on appeal.
- A Brooklyn jury convicts two former South American soccer officials on corruption charges.
- A Swiss court acquits Blatter and Platini of fraud charges in a separate case over a payment between them.
The ethical issues
- Bribery and conflicts of interest in awarding commercial rights and hosting decisions.
- Accountability of international sports federations, which are often based in Switzerland as private associations.
- Extraterritorial enforcement: U.S. jurisdiction over global sports officials through the U.S. banking system.
- Culture of impunity: how voting structures and patronage can entrench corruption.
- Reform credibility: whether governance changes after a scandal address root causes.
Stakeholders
| Stakeholder | Interests & obligations |
|---|---|
| National associations and confederations | Development funds, votes, and hosting. |
| Sports-marketing companies and broadcasters | Access to rights and fair competition among bidders. |
| Sponsors | Brand risk from association with corruption. |
| Players and fans worldwide | Money for the game, and well-governed tournaments. |
| Law enforcement (U.S. and Switzerland) | Prosecuting corruption and money laundering. |
Why this case matters
The FIFA prosecutions are the leading case on governance of international sports federations, and on what can happen when outside law enforcement steps in where self-regulation has failed.
Discussion questions
- Should U.S. prosecutors police global sport? What are the benefits and risks?
- What structural features of FIFA made corruption easier, and which reforms would address them most?
- Do sponsors and broadcasters share moral responsibility for corruption in the bodies they fund?
- How should a federation decide whether to keep results and awards tainted by corruption, such as hosting rights?