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FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S. - NYT

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@PolancoESA

ALERTA. La Cancillería de #Paraguay confirma orden de captura y extradición para Nicolás Leoz. #FIFAarrests @CONMEBOL_CSF

Nicolás Leoz is getting extradited despite being hospitalised today. ololol
Hospitalized due to stress probably. I would feint too if this free ride of corruption was about to crash down on me
 
Daniel Sandford
‏@BBCDanielS

The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned what it calls "an illegal extraterritorial application of American law" in the FIFA arrests.
 
Yeah, but if it's supposed to be a democratic vote, every vote has to count as much as the next. Can't have votes based on how good your team is, or how big your country is.
Small countries aren't the cause of the corruption, it's corrupt people. or corrupt countries, small countries might help facilitate it more sure, but putting the blame on them, in no way helps with coming to a solution that will be fair, and keep the umbrella federation democratic.


No, I absolutely agree. It wasn't my intent to say that T&T is corrupt, simply that the system itself allows the representatives of these countries to perpetrate this kind of unacceptable behavior. Jack Warner holding the office for 21 years is clearly indicative of this, and one would expect that the US or Mexico might have held the role more often than has been the case, Chuck Blazer notwithstanding.
 
Well, the sequel to the FIFA movie will be interesting now.

The heart warming tale of one man and his fight to overcome the corrupt American justice system and expand the beautiful game to the furthest and hottest corners of the globe.

The tears are already flowing.
 
Daniel Sandford
‏@BBCDanielS

The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned what it calls "an illegal extraterritorial application of American law" in the FIFA arrests.

DOJ/world's response:

18zLXBN.gif
 
I can just see the history books 20 years from now


...little did we know that the dismantling of FIFA, which directly lead to the postponement of the 2018 World Cup and removal of Russia and Qatar's right to ever host a future World Cup, would escalate into WW3.

Thankfully, through the love of the beautiful game, and a growing sense of transnationalism in the late 2010s, WW3 only lasted between June 1, 2020 and June 2, 2020. The combined middle fingers of the United States, China, and pretty much everyone else in the world caused a tear in space time that sucked all of Putin's government down into what is now known as Putin's Asshole.

Those responsible for the deaths of slaves in Qatar, every member of ISIS, and Charlie Sheen are the only other people known to have also been sucked down Putin's Asshole.

In 2020 USA not only played host the most profitable and fair World Cup in history but also won it in spectacular fashion as Johnny Manziel and RoboDonovan scored 10 goals each.

Following the victory Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton form the WSF (World Soccer Federation) a not for profit organization that till today keeps the beautiful game free from scandal and and holds the World Cup in America every 4 years.

After all, Soccer has always been America's pastime.
 
Why are they getting extradited to the US when they are headquartered in Switzerland? Is there any basis for this?

They're being charged with crimes in the US. The US is claiming jurisdiction over them likely for a few reasons, such as their money passed through US banks and they held meetings in the US.
 
Why are they getting extradited to the US when they are headquartered in Switzerland? Is there any basis for this?

They drank Coca Cola products. Every time you open a can you are agreeing to to terms that make you liable under all US laws, as you are consuming a US product. Its like those software license agreements you agree to when you break the seal on the CD-ROM.
 
The one that ran from 900 to 1800?


Switzerland remains a separate case.

Yeah but it never did in unity really. Voltaire put it right. The EU is such a scam as well.

Europe is too many different cultures, languagues and everything on a relatively small piece of land. This is an issue when it comes to global problems, if the noses aren't pointing in the same direction you won't get action. Each has their own agenda. Thats why FIFA could rule the way they did for so long. This is also why there is never much action taken in general.
 
I don't know about RICO, but the DOJ's conviction rate on criminal prosecutions is over 90%.
Do they have a high conviction rate because they are succesful, or do they have a high conviction rate because they only get the clear-cut cases before the judge?
 
Holy shit.


WHAT THE RIGGING COSTS
$800,000
The money that two of FIFA's 24 executive committee members, Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Tamarii of Oceania, said it would cost to buy each of their World Cup votes, according to The Times of London.

3. A HUMAN RIGHTS NIGHTMARE
News flash: Freedom in Russia, not a priority. The controversial 2013 law that seeks to imprison those who distribute gay "propaganda" is strongly opposed by only 7 percent of Russians. Meanwhile, shortly after Qatar won the 2022 World Cup bid, human rights organizations began to file complaints of appalling conditions for the mostly migrant population tasked with building Qatar's 12 World Cup stadiums.

THE STARK NUMBERS
1,200
Estimated number of workers who died working on World Cup projects between 2010 and March 2014.

4,000
Estimated number of workers who will die between now and the beginning of the 2022 World Cup.

13
Number of months some have waited for their daily wages of $9.50 to be paid, effectively making Qatar a slave state.

12
Number of workers assigned to live and sleep in one room in some places.

8
Number of Western journalists arrested by the Qatari government while reporting on these affairs.
 
No, I absolutely agree. It wasn't my intent to say that T&T is corrupt, simply that the system itself allows the representatives of these countries to perpetrate this kind of unacceptable behavior. Jack Warner holding the office for 21 years is clearly indicative of this, and one would expect that the US or Mexico might have held the role more often than has been the case, Chuck Blazer notwithstanding.

These positions usually last for quite a few years though, very rarely do you see a change every election, or even every other election. Could be worth maybe doing what the US did with, putting a limit to the number of terms a person can hold office.

Other than that, I really don't know what change to the system would be able to keep it completely democratic, but at the same time safe from corruption. More openness maybe, but not sure how that would work, or be enforced.

I can just see the history books 20 years from now


...little did we know that the dismantling of FIFA, which directly lead to the postponement of the 2018 World Cup and removal of Russia and Qatar's right to ever host a future World Cup, would escalate into WW3.

Thankfully, through the love of the beautiful game, and a growing sense of transnationalism in the late 2010s, WW3 only lasted between June 1, 2020 and June 2, 2020. The combined middle fingers of the United States, China, and pretty much everyone else in the world caused a tear in space time that sucked all of Putin's government down into what is now known as Putin's Asshole.

Those responsible for the deaths of slaves in Qatar, every member of ISIS, and Charlie Sheen are the only other people known to have also been sucked down Putin's Asshole.

In 2020 USA not only played host the most profitable and fair World Cup in history but also won it in spectacular fashion as Johnny Manziel and RoboDonovan scored 10 goals each.

Following the victory Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton form the WSF (World Soccer Federation) a not for profit organization that till today keeps the beautiful game free from scandal and and puts on the World Cup in America every 4 years.

After all, Soccer has always been America's pastime.

I don't like this future where the WC is played every 2 years.
 
So just how significant is the DOJ using RICO for those not in the know?

RICO was made law in 1970 to provide a catch-all superweapon in the prosecution of the Italian Mafia which dominated the country, New York specifically, in the decades prior. RICO applies to criminal enterprises. Thus, the DOJ is alleging FIFA was or transformed into a criminal enterprise. RICO exists to streamline the process of prosecuting participants in a criminal enterprise because all one needs to do is prove a defendant engaged in at least two from a list of crimes, defined to include a whole slew of them, while working with the criminal enterprise.

It's an anti-mafia nuke: any low level grunt or high ranking don who you can pin two crimes on gets smacked with RICO, not with the individual crimes, and RICO has trumped up penalties and jail sentences compared some of the underlying crimes.

Do they have a high conviction rate because they are succesful, or do they have a high conviction rate because they only get the clear-cut cases before the judge?

Both are the reasons for high conviction rates. The DOJ is the cream of the prosecutorial crop, and part of that is the DOJ maintains very high standards for bringing a case. The DOJ doesn't bring weak shit to trial.
 
Do they have a high conviction rate because they are succesful, or do they have a high conviction rate because they only get the clear-cut cases before the judge?

My limited understanding is that RICO conveys significant powers to wreck through the most hardened organizations. Either way, it's on now.
 
Just wondering, why is the US DOJ investigating something international like FIFA? Isn't there some kind of international organization that should be doing this? Did the US send the FBI overseas to investigate FIFA? Why? Does it even have that authority? I don't get it.
 
Just wondering, why is the US DOJ investigating something international like FIFA? Isn't there some kind of international organization that should be doing this? Did the US send the FBI overseas to investigate FIFA? Why? Does it even have that authority? I don't get it.

It's already been explained. The crimes were committed in the United States and Americans were involved.
 
Just wondering, why is the US DOJ investigating something international like FIFA? Isn't there some kind of international organization that should be doing this? Did the US send the FBI overseas to investigate FIFA? Why? Does it even have that authority? I don't get it.

didn't FIFA commit to fraud on US soil? Also Concacaf is involved.
 
RICO was made law in 1970 to provide a catch-all superweapon the prosecution of the Italian Mafia. RICO applies to criminal enterprises. Thus, the DOJ is alleging FIFA was or transformed into a criminal enterprise. RICO exists to streamline the process of prosecuting participants in a criminal enterprise because all one needs to do is prove a defendant engaged in at least two from a list of crimes, defined to include a whole slew of them, while working with the criminal enterprise.

Fun times.

It also focuses on patterns of behavior, which means it's easy to prove in court. RICO destroyed the five family in New York. FIFA doesn't have a prayer.

That makes it seem like the FIFA isn't a mob.

RICO was designed to be used against the mob, but works against pretty much any corrupt organization. It's a justice nuke.
 
Just wondering, why is the US DOJ investigating something international like FIFA? Isn't there some kind of international organization that should be doing this? Did the US send the FBI overseas to investigate FIFA? Why? Does it even have that authority? I don't get it.

It's already been said. US Banks were used for bribery and this happened all on US soil. The DOJ has every right to pursue this.
 
The heart warming tale of one man and his fight to overcome the corrupt American justice system and expand the beautiful game to the furthest and hottest corners of the globe.

The tears are already flowing.
I was thinking of a movie more like The Great Escape, but I'd pop some corn to watch this movie too.
 
My limited understanding is that RICO conveys significant powers to wreck through the most hardened organizations. Either way, it's on now.
RICO has a lower conviction rate than the DOJ in general. They didn't manage to convict the Hell's Angels on it for instance. John Gotti also escaped a couple of RICO cases.

RICO was designed to be used against the mob, but works against pretty much any corrupt organization. It's a justice nuke.
And it is a high failure rate when used against non-mob cases. It for instance was used unsuccesfully in an MLB lawsuit. But my argument was mainly: the FIFA isn't that different from the mob.
 
They're being charged with crimes in the US. The US is claiming jurisdiction over them likely for a few reasons, such as their money passed through US banks and they held meetings in the US.
They do business in the US, used US banks to launder money and, according to some reports, met on US soil.
Thanks, that's what I wanted to know. If they have to pay fines, doesn't the DOJ get everything then? Or rather, doesn't it stay in the US even though other countries were definitely involved as well?

They drank Coca Cola products. Every time you open a can you are agreeing to to terms that make you liable under all US laws, as you are consuming a US product. Its like those software license agreements you agree to when you break the seal on the CD-ROM.
That's a nice caricature of what came to my mind.
 
Just wondering, why is the US DOJ investigating something international like FIFA? Isn't there some kind of international organization that should be doing this? Did the US send the FBI overseas to investigate FIFA? Why? Does it even have that authority? I don't get it.

Check 19 posts before yours.
 
From reading the document, it's mostly CONCACAF and CONMEBOL issues. It's strange that it is FIFA being dragged through the mud.

CONCACAF statement:

The Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) is deeply concerned by today’s developments, in the arrest of several international football officials including those belonging to our Confederation.

The Confederation will continue to cooperate with the authorities to its fullest capacity.

At present, CONCACAF is not in a position to comment further on the specific allegations, which have been referred to the appropriate legal counsel through the pertinent channels.

CONCACAF continues to operate in the ordinary course of business, hosting all of its upcoming tournaments in a successful and timely manner, including the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.


It's president is being arrested and its general secretary is "Co-conspirator #4".
 
RICO has a lower conviction rate than the DOJ in general. They didn't manage to convict the Hell's Angels on it for instance. John Gotti also escaped a couple of RICO cases.


And it is a high failure rate when used against non-mob cases. It for instance was used unsuccesfully in an MLB lawsuit. But my argument was mainly: the FIFA isn't that different from the mob.

Well, this didn't exactly cheer me up any...
 
From reading the document, it's mostly CONCACAF and CONMEBOL issues. It's strange that it is FIFA being dragged through the mud.

CONCACAF statement:




It's president is being arrested and its general secretary is "Co-conspirator #4".

The FBI investigation is primarily CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.

The Swiss investigation is into FIFA.
 
From reading the document, it's mostly CONCACAF and CONMEBOL issues. It's strange that it is FIFA being dragged through the mud.
.

I think this is a case because those two conduct a lot of business in the US. CONMEBOL got pulled in because of the bribes related to the 2016 Copa America, being hosted in the US.

Im sure its the same, if not worse, everywhere else. But why would the African Confederation conduct business with US banks, for example?

FBI cares about the US links, the other police agencies can focus on their own countries.

Swiss will look into UEFA because they and Russia are part of it.
 
RICO has a lower conviction rate than the DOJ in general. They didn't manage to convict the Hell's Angels on it for instance. John Gotti also escaped a couple of RICO cases.


And it is a high failure rate when used against non-mob cases. It for instance was used unsuccesfully in an MLB lawsuit. But my argument was mainly: the FIFA isn't that different from the mob.

The DOJ's conviction rate floats around 92%, so there's quite a bit of headroom there.
 
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