FBI Investigating FIFA President Sepp Blatter's Role In $100m Bribery Scandal

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter

Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty Images

The FBI is investigating outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter's role in a $100 million bribery scandal after he was implicated by his predecessor, according to reports.

A letter obtained by the FBI and sent to Swiss authorities detailed how former FIFA president João Havelange said Blatter had full knowledge of all activities,” and was “always apprised to them," a BBC investigation has uncovered.

Sports marketing company ISL paid a total of $100 million to officials including Havelange and ex-FIFA executive Ricardo Teixeira in the early 1990s.

In return the company was given lucrative television and marketing rights throughout the 1990s. Blatter has consistently denied knowing about the bribes.

In another document obtained by the BBC, and seen by the Guardian, the FBI requested information from an earlier Swiss investigation into the ISL scandal.

The note said: “Among other things, the prosecutor is investigating Havelange’s statements implicating Blatter and appearing to exculpate Havelange’s son-in-law, [Ricardo] Teixeira, in the ISL matter.”

Sepp Blatter, Joao Havelange and Michel Platini chat during the 1998 World Cup match

Pedro Ugarte / AFP / Getty Images

In the letter from Havelange, which is believed to have been written in 2010, he claims ISL payments to him were above board.

“During the period of time in which I was FIFA president, Mr Joseph Blatter was the secretary general, I maintained commercial relationships with sports marketing companies which were under my economic control, and, as a result of these relationships, I received remuneration, in accordance with FIFA regulations, and this was the object of a judicial proceeding settlement in Switzerland without acknowledgement of any guilt.

“I clarify that all expenses for the mentioned proceeding, including attorneys, were paid by FIFA. I emphasize that Mr Joseph Blatter had full knowledge of all activities described above and was always apprised to them.”

Havelange resigned as honorary FIFA president in 2013 after an ethics committee report confirmed he and Teixeira had taken bribes over an eight-year period.

Blatter’s lawyers failed to respond to a request for comment when the BBC contacted them.

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