SOCCER 

Here Are the FIFA Officials Indicted on Corruption Charges

A look at the 14 people, including FIFA officials, who face racketeering, conspiracy and corruption charges in the United States.
  1. Jeffrey Webb Joe Klamar/AFP
    PRESIDENT OF CONCACAF, V.P. OF FIFA
    Jeffrey Webb
    Webb, 50, has been president of Concacaf, the regional confederation representing North and Central America and the Caribbean, since 2012. That post also makes him a vice president of FIFA. His arrest might be the biggest surprise: Webb is widely hailed as a voice for change in world soccer, and he has pressed FIFA to be more proactive in fighting corruption and mismanagement. He was among the few voices who pressed FIFA to release the entire report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Webb has also taken the lead in fighting racism in the game; he currently leads FIFA's anti-discrimination task force. 
  2. Jack WarnerShirley Bahadur/AP
    FORMER PRESIDENT OF CONCACAF AND V.P. OF FIFA
    Jack Warner
    Warner, 72, was a dominant force in Concacaf and FIFA politics for nearly 30 years until he resigned all of his positions in the wake of numerous charges of corruption and bribery against him. Because of FIFA rules at the time he retired in 2011, Warner’s resignation brought to an end all ethics proceedings against him. That prevented a public airing of the charges – “the presumption of innocence is maintained,” FIFA said in announcing his departure – including allegations that he had benefited from reselling World Cup tickets and television rights and that he had used FIFA funds to build a $26 million training center on property that he owned, making him its de facto owner. Warner dismissed a report detailing his financial mismanagement of Concacaf as “baseless and malicious” when it was released in 2013. “I left Concacaf and turned my back on football two years ago,” he said. “Since then, I have had no interest in any football-related matter.”
  3. Eugenio FigueredoAlan Diaz/AP
    OUTGOING V.P. OF FIFA
    Eugenio Figueredo
    Figueredo, 83, was the president of Uruguay’s soccer federation from 1997 to 2006, and served as the vice president of Conmebol, the governing body for soccer in South America, from 1993 to 2013. He ascended to the presidency of the federation when Nicolás Leoz of Paraguay resigned from FIFA; Leoz cited “health and personal” reasons for his resignation, but he had been accused of soliciting bribes for his vote in the competition for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Figueredo’s time on the Executive Committee was short, however; he recently lost his seat to another Paraguayan, Juan Ángel Napout.
  4. Eduardo LiRodrigo Arangua/AFP
    MEMBER-ELECT, FIFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
    Eduardo Li
    A businessman with Chinese roots, Li is the president of Costa Rica’s soccer federation and is to join FIFA’s executive committee this week. Last year, he oversaw Costa Rica’s hosting of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup. He is also a member of the executive committee of Concacaf and of the panel that oversees its regional championship tournament, the Gold Cup.
  5. Nicolás LeozNorberto Duarte/AFP
    FORMER MEMBER OF FIFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
    Nicolás Leoz
    Leoz, 86, served as president of Conmebol, the South American soccer association, from 1986 to 2013 and was a longtime member of FIFA’s executive committee, but he resigned both positions two years ago, citing health and personal issues. His resignation came after he was accused of taking kickbacks from a former FIFA marketing partner during the 1990s, and after an official for England’s 2018 World Cup bid said Leoz had demanded a knighthood in exchange for his vote.
  6. José Maria MarinBuda Mendes/Getty Images
    FORMER PRESIDENT OF BRAZILIAN SOCCER FEDERATION
    José Maria Marin
    Marin, 83, was president of the Brazilian soccer federation from 2012 until April of this year, and as a result was the head of Brazilian soccer when it hosted the 2014 World Cup. He is also a member of the organizing committee for next year’s Olympic soccer tournament in Rio. Of Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semifinal, which shattered the country’s fans and prevented the team from lifting the Cup at home, Marin said this year: “We don't want to blame Brazil’s lack of success in the World Cup on anyone in particular; I believe we are all to blame.”
  7. Julio Rocha Luis Romero/AP
    FIFA DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
    Julio Rocha
    Rocha is the former president of the Nicaraguan soccer federation and also serves as a FIFA development officer. Formerly the president of the Central American Football Union.
  8. Rafael EsquivelLeo Ramirez/AFP
    PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA SOCCER FEDERATION
    Rafael Esquivel
    Esquivel, 68, has been the president of Venezuela’s soccer federation since 1988, making him the longest-serving national federation president in South America.
  9. FORMER CAYMAN ISLANDS SOCCER OFFICIAL
    Costas Takkas
    Takkas is the former general secretary of the Cayman Islands soccer federation, of which Webb is president. 
  10. CHAIRMAN OF N.A.S.L.
    Aaron Davidson
    Davidson is the president of Traffic Sports USA — a promoter of soccer events — and chairman of the board of the North American Soccer League.
  11. SPORTS MARKETING
    Alejandro Burzaco
    Burzaco, a media executive, controls Torneos y Competencias, a sports marketing business based in Argentina.
  12. MEDIA EXECUTIVES
    Hugo and Mariano Jinkis
    Both are soccer media executives with businesses based in Argentina. 
  13. BROADCAST EXECUTIVE
    José Margulies
    Margulies was charged with being an intermediary who facilitated illegal payments.