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FIFA not comment on bribery allegations
FIFA & UEFA - 28 September, 2006
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FIFA official Nicolas Leoz, president of South America's soccer federation has been accused of receiving bribes from Fifa's former marketing partner according to a Swiss magistrate.
"We cannot comment, as the article refers to a report of the investigating magistrate, which we have never seen," Fifa spokesperson Andreas Herren said.
Tuesday's edition of The Guardian claimed that Nicolas Leoz, 78, was accused by a Swiss magistrate of receiving bribes from Fifa's former marketing partner related to the acquisition of television rights.
The newspaper referred to a report by investigating magistrate Thomas Hildbrand in connection with the bankruptcy of the ISL/ISMM Group, which collapsed in 2001 and left a major hole in the world soccer authority's finances .
According to The Guardian, Leoz was named as having received two payments totalling GBP 90 thousand in two separate payments in January and May 2000.
According to the magistrate's report, the paper said, the money was paid by an entity linked to ISMM which Leoz denied. Herren said proceedings on the issue were ongoing in the Swiss canton of Zug.
"Fifa can therefore not comment on any of the allegations for legal reasons," he said.
Hildbrand began his investigation on the basis of a complaint in 2001 by Fifa against ISMM, which specialized in TV and sponsorship deals, and had owned the television and marketing rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
Hildbrand said last year he had submitted his report to the Zug district attorney's office on the investigation in five countries "within and outside of Europe" that found evidence of numerous financial crimes including embezzlement, fraud and falsification of documents.
In 2004 Fifa said it was no longer interested in pursuing a criminal complaint but Hildbrand said he had continued his investigation because of evidence he had uncovered.
According to The Guardian, the investigation concluded no Swiss nationals - including Fifa president Sepp Blatter - were involved. However, the paper said another Fifa executive committee member could be named by the magistrate. The latest allegations follow World Cup ticket scandals involving two other Fifa executive committee members this year.
Ismail Bhamjee of Botswana was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace for selling a dozen tickets for England's match against Trinidad and Tobago for profit. Fifa vice president Jack Warner is to face the organization's disciplinary committee over allegations he also illegally sold thousands of tickets at inflated prices during the World Cup.
"We cannot comment, as the article refers to a report of the investigating magistrate, which we have never seen," Fifa spokesperson Andreas Herren said.
Tuesday's edition of The Guardian claimed that Nicolas Leoz, 78, was accused by a Swiss magistrate of receiving bribes from Fifa's former marketing partner related to the acquisition of television rights.
The newspaper referred to a report by investigating magistrate Thomas Hildbrand in connection with the bankruptcy of the ISL/ISMM Group, which collapsed in 2001 and left a major hole in the world soccer authority's finances .
According to The Guardian, Leoz was named as having received two payments totalling GBP 90 thousand in two separate payments in January and May 2000.
According to the magistrate's report, the paper said, the money was paid by an entity linked to ISMM which Leoz denied. Herren said proceedings on the issue were ongoing in the Swiss canton of Zug.
"Fifa can therefore not comment on any of the allegations for legal reasons," he said.
Hildbrand began his investigation on the basis of a complaint in 2001 by Fifa against ISMM, which specialized in TV and sponsorship deals, and had owned the television and marketing rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
Hildbrand said last year he had submitted his report to the Zug district attorney's office on the investigation in five countries "within and outside of Europe" that found evidence of numerous financial crimes including embezzlement, fraud and falsification of documents.
In 2004 Fifa said it was no longer interested in pursuing a criminal complaint but Hildbrand said he had continued his investigation because of evidence he had uncovered.
According to The Guardian, the investigation concluded no Swiss nationals - including Fifa president Sepp Blatter - were involved. However, the paper said another Fifa executive committee member could be named by the magistrate. The latest allegations follow World Cup ticket scandals involving two other Fifa executive committee members this year.
Ismail Bhamjee of Botswana was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace for selling a dozen tickets for England's match against Trinidad and Tobago for profit. Fifa vice president Jack Warner is to face the organization's disciplinary committee over allegations he also illegally sold thousands of tickets at inflated prices during the World Cup.
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