The US investigation into world football governing
body FIFA is modeled after an operation against an organized crime gang.
Sepp Blatter
Each henchman to fall is like a domino, knocking over
others in a chain to the presumed Mr Big.
It’s a technique mastered by US prosecutors targeting
mafia rackets and drug cartels, and recognizable to experts observing the case.
“Reading the indictment as a former prosecutor, it’s
clear that they’re looking at an upper level of the organization,” said John
Lauro, who worked in the same New York district that filed the FIFA arrest
warrants.
“I think the overall goal of the investigation is to
indict the highest level of the association, that’s the ultimate goal.”
The highest level of FIFA, throughout the period
covered by the investigations, was the body’s Swiss president Sepp Blatter.
He strenuously denies all wrongdoing, but the turn
taken by the US investigation suggests that more arrests are in the pipeline.
Loretta Lynch, who began the investigation before she
was named US Attorney General, said as much as she unveiled the first
indictments.
The inquiry was just beginning, she said, and FIFA is
being targeted under the RICO act as a “Racketeer Influenced Corrupt
Organization.”
When the initially defiant Blatter announced his
surprise resignation on Tuesday, many assumed that he was under investigation.
Those targeted in last week’s indictments were not the
first FIFA executives served.
Several of their alleged co-conspirators have pleaded
guilty and agreed to becoming cooperative witnesses.
Now prosecutors will try to get the newly detained
suspects to turn on others.
“I suspect the dominos are going to fall quickly,”
said Andy Spaulding, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia
and a specialist in international corruption.
Lauro agreed, saying the indictments suggest the Feds
have a very detailed understanding of FIFA’s internal practices.
“There’s a number of other people out there that could
be the subject of an indictment,” the former prosecutor said.
“You’d better come in and cooperate or we’re going be
directing our activities against you.”
Lawyer David Weinstein compared the case to former
attorney general Robert Kennedy’s attack on organized crime in the 1960s.
“There’s no rush but they have momentum now,” he said,
describing the US indictments as the first dominos that led to the Swiss
arrests.
“The pressure is certainly on others to cooperate and
to provide evidence that will either exonerate them or assist them in reducing
them their exposure.”
Weinstein said former FIFA vice-president Jack
Warner’s two sons — now cooperating witnesses — led the investigation to Chuck
Blazer.
Blazer, the former larger than life leader of the
North American football body CONCACAF now a sickly old man, agreed to wear a
wire.
Now, prosecutors appear to be focused on $10 million
payment South Africa made to a body controlled by Warner before the country was
awarded the rights to hold the 2010 World Cup.
The transfer was allegedly overseen by Blatter’s
right-hand man, Jerome Valke, who also insists he has nothing to answer for.
There has been nothing in his public statements to
suggest it, but perhaps one day Blatter himself may agree to testify.
The veteran strongman at the heart of world football
may have information on dubious transfers from sponsors and other countries.
“If he cooperates it’s all going to come down, all the
dominos will fall,” said Spalding.
“We can infer by his resignation that he’s aware of
evidence incriminating him, there will be an indictment and perhaps a
settlement with Blatter, likely pretty soon.”
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