FIFAgate: a new trial for corruption, fraud and money laundering is underway with another Argentine defendant

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Two former executives of the American giant Fox and the Argentine company full play Since Tuesday, they have been sitting on the bench in New York accused of corruption, bank fraud and money laundering, in the context of the mega corruption scandal at FIFA that broke out in 2015.

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It’s about Mexican-American Carlos Martinez and Argentine-American Hernan Lópezwho worked in the company Fox of the 21st century and the Full Play Group, a Buenos Aires-based sports marketing agency owned by the Argentine defendants. Hugo and Mariano Jinkis.

The American justice claims that between 2005 and 2015 “the defendants agreed to pay, pay and facilitate the payment and concealment of annual bribes and the payment of illegal commissions” to officials of the conmebol in exchange for lucrative broadcasting deals for Copa Libertadores friendly matches and other soccer events, and obtaining insider information to obtain the rights to broadcast 2018 and 2022 World Cup matches in the United States.

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The Spaniard is also accused in the same case Gerardo Romaformer president of the Imagina sports club.

On April 9, 2020, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, the two defendants pleaded not guilty and they agreed to post $15 million bail each to await trial at liberty.

Jury selection that will seal the defendants’ fates has already begun, the Brooklyn court said, so the first arguments could begin in front of the judge on Tuesday Pamela Chencase instructor.

According to the FBI, the defendants “bribed the government and international football business with bribes and kickbacks for many yearsand has been involved in fraudulent criminal schemes which have caused significant damage to the sport of football.”

“Their schemes included the use of shell companies, bogus consultancy contracts, and other methods of concealment to disguise kickbacks and kickbacks and make them appear legitimate.”

The charges carry prison sentences of up to 20 years for each offence.

Romy is also facing conspiracy charges for paying a $3 million bribe to former Concacaf chief Jeffrey Webb, in exchange for broadcasting rights to World Cup 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) qualifying matches, according to the indictment.

The case is part of the so-called FIFAgate, the corruption scandal that rocked the world’s football authority in 2015 and cost the then president his job. Joseph Blatter.

US justice has charged about 45 people and several sports clubs with more than 90 crimes and with having paid or accepted more than 200 million dollars in bribes.

Of them, 27 pleaded guilty -four of them died-; other defendants who pleaded guilty were sentenced and others who pleaded guilty are still awaiting trial. Two others were found guilty at trial and given different sentences.

In addition, four companies have pleaded guilty, two others have reached stay-of-prosecution agreements, and two others have paid fines.

The allocation of venues for the 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) World Cups was marred by corruption, according to US justice.

Source: AFP

Source: Clarin

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