Report: Blatter's top lieutenant Valcke made transfers worth $10 million 'central to bribery case'

by
REUTERS/Ruben Sprich

The money trail is inching closer to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, the organization's No. 2 official, "made $10 million in bank transactions that are central elements of the bribery scandal engulfing international soccer," report The New York Times' William K. Rashbaum and Matt Apuzzo.

The Times adds:

Valcke, the soccer organization's secretary general, is the unidentified 'high-ranking FIFA official' who prosecutors say transferred $10 million in 2008 from FIFA to accounts controlled by another soccer official, Jack Warner, the officials said. The payment is a key piece of last week’s indictment accusing Mr. Warner of taking a bribe in exchange for helping South Africa secure the right to host the 2010 World Cup.

Valcke said in an email that he didn't authorize the payment and didn't have the authority to do so, according to the Times.

The chief executive of the 2010 South African World Cup bid said the money wasn't a bribe, and was used to fund a soccer development program in the Caribbean.

The money was transferred in three instalments in January and March 2008. Blatter denied last week that he was behind the payments. "Definitely that is not me," he said. "I have no $10 million."

FIFA announced Monday that Valcke will not attend the Women's World Cup in Canada, which begins June 6, "due to the current situation."

The Digest

Everything you need to know about FIFA's corruption charges

by theScore Staff
Reuters

FIFA and corruption have long been intertwined. On May 27, the United States Department of Justice, in tandem with Swiss authorities, attempted to do something about it.

Several FIFA officials, gathering at the lavish Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich ahead of the governing body's presidential election Friday, were arrested in the early hours of the morning on charges put forth following the combined efforts of the U.S. Justice Department, FBI and IRS.

The charges, delivered to 14 officials in total, include corruption and racketeering, and were followed by a later revelation from the Swiss justice department that separate criminal cases have been opened in relation to the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The fallout and reaction, as expected, has been both swift and enormous.

Need to know

  • On June 1, The New York Times reported Blatter's top lieutenant, Jerome Valcke, "made $10 million in bank transactions that are central elements of the bribery scandal engulfing international soccer." The report links Blatter closer to the money trail than ever before. FIFA denied the claims.
  • Who, exactly, are the 14 individuals facing corruption, conspiracy and racketeering charges in the United States? Find out here.
  • In reaction to the arrests, FIFA said there will not be a re-vote over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively.
  • Russian officials, asked about their concern over Swiss federal prosecutors opening separate criminal proceedings related to the awarding of the 2018 World Cup, seem unperturbed, saying that the country has "nothing to hide."
  • Russian president Vladimir Putin then doubled-down, calling the criminal charges unlawful and putting forth his opinion that the United States is attempting to replace Russia as hosts of the 2018 World Cup. "This is another blatant attempt to extend (U.S.) jurisdiction to other states," he said.

Further Reading/Viewing

  • In light of the explosive events and the FBI press conference that followed, Grant Wahl examines where this sprawling investigation goes from here. [Sports Illustrated]
  • Concurrently, Gabriele Marcotti asks the only question that really matters in this attempted takedown of football's diseased, corrupted governing body: Will this lead to real, meaningful change? [ESPN FC]
  • Speaking of the FBI, many have questioned how the American institution has the jurisdiction to arrest officials from an international organization, in Switzerland. Philip Bump explains. [Washington Post]
  • Disgraced former FIFA vice-president and president of CONCACAF, Jack Warner, was one of the 14 people indicted on corruption charges Wednesday. As has always been his stance, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing in light of the latest allegations, saying, pointedly, "I sleep very soundly in the night." [The Associated Press]
  • In the lightest moment of the FBI's hefty, heavy press conference on Wednesday, IRS chief of criminal investigations Richard Weber delivered a cringe-worthy joke that received much scorn – and rightfully so. "This really is the World Cup of fraud and today we are issuing FIFA a red card," he said. Yikes. [SB Nation]

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