FIFA Opens Disciplinary Investigation Into Argentina Players After 2026 World Cup Final<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTo that end, the U.S. representative sent a five-page letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino requesting documents and his appearance before Congress. The request seeks to determine whether FIFA received benefits from the U.S. government in exchange for favors granted to Trump during the organization of the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The investigation will address high-profile corruption cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars related to FIFA, while also examining allegations that the organization gouged American consumers with exorbitant prices during the World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe most recent quid pro quo that FIFA and President Trump orchestrated is not a victimless crime. It hurts Americans. FIFA has taken its newfound favored status in the Trump Administration as a sign that it may rip off its consumers, most notably, by employing illegal price gouging and fraudulent sales tactics for the World Cup,\u201d Raskin wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince Infantino\u2019s election, FIFA has dismantled key ethics guardrails, sidelined ethics and oversight bodies, and pursued an aggressive campaign to curry favor with Donald Trump, including through outright bribery,\u201d the House Judiciary Committee stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn exchange for leasing an office in Trump Tower at inflated costs for limited use and inventing a bogus \u2018peace prize\u2019 for the President, the Trump Administration abandoned anti-corruption enforcement and allowed FIFA to operate as a multinational criminal enterprise with impunity,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through its website, the House Judiciary Committee recalled that FIFA\u2019s history of corruption is well documented, noting that the Department of Justice uncovered illegal activities spanning decades and involving defendants, who exchanged over US$200 million in bribes and kickbacks in return for lucrative broadcasting rights to international soccer matches. Although authorities secured convictions in two of those cases, the Trump administration abruptly dropped the charges, allowing the defendants to go free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat impunity has come at the expense of American soccer fans. FIFA has imposed extreme and unlawful ticketing practices for the World Cup, including price surges from a promised US$1,550 cap to nearly US$33,000 per seat, widespread use of dynamic pricing, and the ability to downgrade ticket holders to worse seats after purchase. These tactics have triggered state-level investigations while Trump\u2019s Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission have looked the other way,\u201d the House Judiciary Committee stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his letter to Infantino, Raskin requested documents and communications from FIFA related to any gifts, payments or benefits provided to Trump and his associates, as well as records concerning FIFA\u2019s ticketing practices and contacts with U.S. officials. The U.S. representative also seeks to reveal the nature of Trump\u2019s relationship with Infantino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Justice Department\u2019s conduct becomes easier to understand when viewed alongside FIFA\u2019s campaign to win Donald Trump\u2019s favor since his reelection, a strategy that has generated significant benefits for the organization while North America hosted the World Cup. During the past 18 months, you created a so-called \u2018FIFA Peace Prize\u2019 to present to President Trump, who has publicly expressed his interest in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. In addition, you leased office space on the 17th floor of Trump Tower \u2014 at an estimated cost of US$600,000 a year \u2014 even though it would be used only during the 39 days of the World Cup. That represents a cost of more than US$15,000 per day,\u201d Raskin stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour election as FIFA president was supposed to represent a break with the culture of corruption that damaged the reputation of world soccer for decades. You were elected with a mandate to reform the organization following Mr. Blatter\u2019s resignation. However, at the beginning of your tenure, you weakened ethical oversight mechanisms and removed most members of FIFA\u2019s ethics committee. That lack of transparency and oversight paved the way for you to develop a close relationship with the Trump administration through practices that a New York University law professor and a former member of FIFA\u2019s ethics committee described as \u2018legal bribery,’\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Near the end of the letter, Raskin requested that Infantino provide the following documents and information no later than Aug. 9:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. A list of anything of value (including transfer of money, gifts, prizes, awards or public appearances) given to President Trump, members of his administration or their family members, or any entity associated with them, such as The Trump Organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. All documents and communications relating to the gifts referenced in Request No. 1, including but not limited to FIFA\u2019s lease or rental in Trump Tower and the \u201cFIFA Peace Prize.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. All documents and communications since 2024 with any United States official, or anyone associated with the 2024-2025 presidential transition, regarding any matter pending before or under consideration by officials at the Department of Justice or any other department, agency or office of the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. All communications with the United States government relating to FIFA\u2019s ticketing practices, including consumer complaints, discussions regarding variable or other pricing mechanisms, third-party sellers and ticket prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. All visitor logs for FIFA\u2019s Miami and New York City offices for the duration of the New York City office lease term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
teleSUR\/ JF<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSources: House Judiciary Committee \u2013 La Tercera<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSource: teleSUR English<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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