Week 2 - Fifa corruption scandal

28 May 2015

Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since this summer, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives.

Why does this matter?

The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, larger even than the Olympics. It generates billions of dollars in revenue from corporate sponsors, broadcasting rights and merchandising. These arrests and investigations cast doubt over the transparency and honesty for the process of allocating World Cup tournaments, electing its president, and the administration of funds, including those earmarked for improving football facilities in some of Fifa's poorer members.

Why were the officials accused?

The FBI has been investigating Fifa for the past three years. The investigation was initially sparked by the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, but was widened to look back at Fifa's dealings over the past 20 years.

The Department of Justice's indictment says that the corruption was planned in the US, even if it was then carried out elsewhere. The use of US banks to transfer money appears to be key to the investigation.

Mr. Blatter consistently denied wrongdoing while several of his close colleagues were indicted by the US. In September, he was named as the subject of a separate criminal investigation launched by Swiss prosecutors.

How much money is involved?

The US indictment alleges that US and South American sports marketing executives paid and agreed to pay "well over $150m" in bribes and other illegal payments to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international football tournaments.

That does not include other possible alleged corruption around the world.

Fifa makes nearly all its revenue from the World Cup. Last year's tournament cost the host country Brazil an estimated $4bn, and yet Fifa made more than $2bn from the tournament via sponsors, the sale of broadcasting rights and merchandising. The costs of the next two World Cups are expected to dwarf this: Qatar 2022 is reported to be costing above $6bn.

What next for Fifa?

Mr. Blatter has promised to step down as Fifa president in February, despite having been re-elected only this summer, just days after the Zurich hotel raid.

As the scandal refused to abate, he agreed to curtail his presidency and leave office within months, once a successor had been chosen. He also said he was working on reforms to his organization.

It is unclear if the Swiss investigation against Mr. Blatter will prevent him from continuing in office.

Meanwhile, the man widely tipped to be his successor, Mr. Platini, has now been named as a recipient in 2011 of a "disloyal payment" from Mr. Blatter - reportedly for work carried out nine years earlier. Mr. Platini has issued a statement saying he was entitled to the money, and is helping the Swiss authorities with their investigation.

He has also denied any wrongdoing and has not been named as a suspect. However, he may have to answer further questions if he is to remain a contender for the top job at Fifa.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32897066

Structure of the Lead.

        Who- Fifa, Mr. Blatter, the USA, FBI

        When- 28, May, 2015

        What- Fifa has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption

        Why- the corruption was planned in the US and use US banks to transfer money

        Where- The USA

        How- Mr. Blatter agreed to curtail his presidency and leave office within months, once a successor had been chosen

Keywords：

1. engulf (v.)吞沒;吞噬

2. generate (v.)生成;產生

3. transparency (n.)透明度

4. allocate (v.)分配;調配

5. indictment (n.)起訴書

6. lucrative (a.)賺錢的

7. allege (v.)斷言

8. abate (v.)緩和;廢除

9. curtail (v.)縮短;簡略

10. successor (n.)繼承人;接班人