Posts
The New Corruption
How FIFA's Reforms Failed
FIFA: Swiss Non-Profit, Global Crime — Post 4 | February 6, 2026
Post 1: The $11 Billion Question — Where FIFA's money goes
Post 2: The Stats Perform Mystery — Undisclosed payments, Vista Equity
Post 3: The Saudi Web — PIF, DAZN, circular money
Post 4: The New Corruption ← YOU ARE HERE — Post-2015 reforms failed
Post 5: The Player Extraction — 3% compensation, no CBA
Post 6: The Dealmaker — Romy Gai and AWE
Post 7: The Global Pattern — NFL to FIFA
The Old Corruption: $150 Million in Bribes
To understand how FIFA's reforms failed, we need to understand what they were reforming.
The 2015 scandal centered on systematic corruption spanning decades:
World Cup vote-buying: Officials received bribes in exchange for votes on hosting rights. Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018 hosting decisions were allegedly influenced by payments to FIFA Executive Committee members.
Marketing kickbacks: Companies paid bribes to FIFA officials to secure broadcasting and sponsorship deals. The scheme involved sports marketing firms (like Traffic Group, based in Brazil) paying millions to secure FIFA tournament rights, then inflating prices to recoup bribes.
Personal enrichment: Senior FIFA officials lived lavishly — private jets, luxury hotels, Swiss bank accounts — funded by bribes disguised as "consulting fees" or "commissions."
The DOJ indictment documented $150 million in bribes paid to FIFA officials between 1991 and 2015. The actual amount was likely far higher — $150 million was what prosecutors could prove.
Key figures indicted or implicated:
- Sepp Blatter: FIFA President 1998-2015, banned for financial misconduct
- Jack Warner: Former CONCACAF president, indicted for racketeering
- Chuck Blazer: Former CONCACAF general secretary, turned FBI informant
- Jeffrey Webb: CONCACAF president, pleaded guilty to racketeering
- Nicolás Leoz: CONMEBOL president, died while under house arrest
The corruption was blatant: cash in envelopes, wire transfers to personal accounts, bribes paid in hotel suites during FIFA meetings.
FIFA's reputation was destroyed. Sponsors threatened to leave. National federations demanded change. FIFA promised reform.
MAY 2015: THE ZURICH RAID
• Swiss police arrest 7 FIFA officials at Baur au Lac hotel
• US DOJ indicts 14 people total
• Charges: Racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering
• $150 million in documented bribes (1991-2015)
THE CORRUPTION MODEL:
1. World Cup vote-buying:
• Officials bribed for hosting votes (Qatar 2022, Russia 2018)
• Payments ranged from hundreds of thousands to millions per vote
1. Marketing kickbacks:
• Sports marketing firms (Traffic Group, others) paid bribes for FIFA rights
• Bribes disguised as “consulting fees” or “commissions”
• Firms inflated prices to recoup bribe costs
1. Personal enrichment:
• FIFA officials lived lavishly (private jets, luxury hotels, Swiss accounts)
• Sepp Blatter’s undisclosed compensation rumored >$5M/year
• Senior officials paid via offshore accounts
KEY FIGURES INDICTED/IMPLICATED:
• Sepp Blatter: FIFA President 1998-2015, banned 8 years (later reduced to 6)
• Jack Warner: CONCACAF president, indicted (fled to Trinidad)
• Chuck Blazer: CONCACAF general secretary, turned FBI informant (died 2017)
• Jeffrey Webb: CONCACAF president, pleaded guilty
• Nicolás Leoz: CONMEBOL president, died under house arrest
THE FALLOUT:
• Blatter resigned June 2015
• FIFA reputation destroyed globally
• Sponsors (Visa, Coca-Cola) demanded reforms
• National federations pressured FIFA for governance changes
This was the corruption FIFA promised to fix.
The Reforms: What FIFA Promised
In February 2016, Gianni Infantino was elected FIFA President on a reform platform. He promised:
1. Independent ethics oversight: Strengthened ethics committee with investigatory and adjudicatory chambers, independent from FIFA leadership
2. Term limits: FIFA President limited to 3 four-year terms (12 years maximum)
3. Transparency: Enhanced financial disclosures, publication of executive salaries, clearer accounting
4. Governance reforms: FIFA Council replacing Executive Committee, clearer separation of powers
5. Compliance and audit: Independent audit committee, compliance officers, regular reviews
These reforms looked substantial. And initially, they were implemented:
- Ethics committee chairs appointed: Cornel Borbély (investigatory) and Hans-Joachim Eckert (adjudicatory)
- FIFA Council formed with clearer governance structure
- Financial reports published with more detail (though still limited)
- Compliance programs established
For about 15 months, it appeared FIFA was serious about reform. Ethics investigations continued. Transparency improved slightly. The organization seemed to be cleaning house.
Then Infantino dismantled it.
MAY 2015: SCANDAL BREAKS
• 7 officials arrested, 14 indicted
• Sepp Blatter resigns (June 2015)
• FIFA promises reform
FEBRUARY 2016: INFANTINO ELECTED
• Runs on reform platform
• Promises: Ethics, transparency, governance changes
• Elected with support of reformist national federations
2016: REFORMS IMPLEMENTED
• Ethics committee strengthened
- Cornel Borbély: Investigatory chamber chair
- Hans-Joachim Eckert: Adjudicatory chamber chair
• Term limits imposed (3 terms, 12 years max)
• FIFA Council replaces Executive Committee
• Financial disclosures enhanced (partially)
• Compliance programs established
2016-EARLY 2017: INVESTIGATIONS PROCEED
• Ethics committees pursue 100+ open cases
• Some investigations reportedly involve Infantino’s conduct
• Watchdogs functioning independently
MAY 2017: INFANTINO STRIKES BACK
• FIFA Council votes to remove both ethics chairs
- Borbély and Eckert ousted mid-investigations
• Replacements installed: María Claudia Rojas, Vassilios Skouris
• Critics: “Independent watchdogs fired for doing their jobs”
2017-2026: REFORMS UNRAVEL
• FIFA Council gains power to remove ethics officials
• Investigations slow dramatically
• Infantino consolidates control
• New corruption model emerges: partnerships, not bribes
The reforms lasted 15 months. Then Infantino dismantled them.
May 2017: The Ethics Purge
In May 2017, the FIFA Council voted to remove Cornel Borbély and Hans-Joachim Eckert — both ethics committee chairs — and replace them with new appointees.
The official reason: "Restructuring for greater efficiency."
The real reason: Borbély and Eckert were investigating FIFA officials, including Infantino.
At the time of their removal, reports indicated the ethics committees were pursuing more than 100 open investigations. These included:
- Allegations involving Infantino's private jet travel
- Questions about Infantino's relationship with his former employer (UEFA)
- Ongoing probes into regional confederation officials
- Investigations into World Cup hosting decisions
Borbély and Eckert were doing exactly what independent watchdogs should do: investigating everyone, including the President.
So Infantino's FIFA Council fired them.
The vote was framed as routine restructuring. But transparency advocates, journalists, and some national federations immediately recognized it as a purge. Michael J. Garcia — the former FIFA ethics investigator who resigned in 2014 after his Qatar World Cup report was mishandled — called the removals a "setback for reform."
The message was clear: FIFA's ethics system is independent only as long as it doesn't investigate the people in power.
WHO WAS REMOVED:
• Cornel Borbély: Chair, Investigatory Chamber (ethics investigator)
• Hans-Joachim Eckert: Chair, Adjudicatory Chamber (ethics judge)
• Both appointed post-2015 reforms, functioning independently
WHEN: May 2017 (15 months after Infantino took office)
OFFICIAL REASON:
• “Restructuring for greater efficiency”
• “New leadership to continue reform process”
REAL REASON:
• Borbély/Eckert pursuing 100+ open investigations
• Some investigations involved Infantino’s conduct
- Private jet travel arrangements
- Relationship with UEFA (potential conflicts)
- Undisclosed dealings
• Watchdogs doing their jobs = threat to Infantino
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• FIFA Council (controlled by Infantino allies) voted to remove them
• Replacements installed: María Claudia Rojas, Vassilios Skouris
• No transparency on what happened to 100+ ongoing investigations
REACTION:
• Michael J. Garcia (former FIFA ethics investigator): Called it “setback for reform”
• Transparency International: Criticized FIFA for undermining independence
• Some national federations: Expressed concern privately (few spoke publicly)
THE MESSAGE:
FIFA’s ethics system is independent only when it doesn’t investigate people in
power. When watchdogs do their jobs, they get fired.
The New Model: Partnerships Over Bribes
Post-2017, FIFA corruption evolved. The old model — cash bribes, wire transfers, envelopes full of money — became too risky after the 2015 prosecutions.
The new model is legalized corruption through corporate partnerships:
Instead of bribes for World Cup votes:
- Saudi Arabia invests in FIFA's media partners (PIF → DAZN $1B)
- Saudi sponsors FIFA directly (Aramco $100M/year)
- Saudi offers FIFA loans (SFD up to $1B)
- FIFA awards 2034 World Cup to Saudi (sole bidder, no competition)
Instead of marketing kickbacks:
- FIFA gives exclusive betting data to Stats Perform (Vista Equity)
- Payment to FIFA: undisclosed
- Stats Perform profits from monopoly
- FIFA's dealmaker (Romy Gai) came from consulting firm with Saudi operations
Instead of personal enrichment via Swiss accounts:
- FIFA executives negotiate deals
- May later join private equity firms, consulting firms, or companies that benefited from FIFA deals
- Revolving door creates incentives to favor certain partners
This model is harder to prosecute because it's structured through legitimate corporate transactions. There's no smoking gun email saying "pay me $1 million for my vote." Instead, it's:
- A sovereign wealth fund investing in a streaming platform
- A state oil company sponsoring a sports organization
- A private equity firm getting exclusive data rights
Everything looks legal on paper. But the outcomes are the same:
- FIFA gives value (hosting rights, data monopolies, legitimacy) to entities that pay FIFA
- The money flows in circles
- Players and fans don't benefit
- FIFA executives profit (either directly via salaries or indirectly via future opportunities)
Not cleaner. Smarter.
OLD MODEL (PRE-2015):
• Cash bribes for World Cup votes
• Wire transfers to Swiss accounts
• Envelopes full of money in hotel rooms
• Marketing kickbacks disguised as “consulting fees”
• Easy to prosecute (if you catch them)
NEW MODEL (POST-2017):
• Sovereign wealth fund invests in FIFA’s media partner (PIF → DAZN $1B)
• State oil company sponsors FIFA (Aramco $100M/year)
• Development fund offers FIFA loans (SFD $1B)
• FIFA awards hosting to investor’s country (Saudi 2034)
• Hard to prosecute (all transactions look legitimate)
EXAMPLE: WORLD CUP HOSTING
• Old: Qatar allegedly paid bribes for 2022 votes
• New: Saudi invests in FIFA partners, sponsors FIFA, offers loans → gets 2034 as sole bidder
EXAMPLE: COMMERCIAL DEALS
• Old: Marketing firms paid kickbacks for tournament rights
• New: Private equity firm (Vista) gets exclusive betting data, payment undisclosed
EXAMPLE: PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
• Old: Officials received wire transfers to Swiss accounts
• New: Executives negotiate deals, potentially join beneficiary firms later (revolving door)
WHY NEW MODEL IS WORSE:
• Harder to prosecute (corporate partnerships look legal)
• Creates structural conflicts (not individual bribes)
• Opacity makes accountability nearly impossible
• Reforms designed to catch old corruption can’t touch new model
The corruption didn’t end. It evolved.
Infantino's Ethics Probes: Cleared by Compromised System
Gianni Infantino has faced multiple ethics investigations during his tenure as FIFA President. All were either dismissed or resulted in no punishment.
Examples:
1. Private jet travel (2016-2017): Infantino used private jets provided by FIFA sponsors and regional confederation officials. Questions raised about whether this created conflicts (sponsors getting favorable treatment in exchange for perks). Ethics committee investigated. Result: No action taken.
2. Meetings with Swiss Attorney General (2020): Infantino held undisclosed meetings with Switzerland's Attorney General Michael Lauber while Lauber was investigating FIFA corruption. Both denied wrongdoing. Lauber later resigned over the scandal. Infantino faced no consequences.
3. Residential arrangements (2021): Questions raised about Infantino's living situation and whether FIFA was improperly covering personal expenses. Ethics probe opened. Result: No wrongdoing found.
A pattern emerges: Infantino gets investigated, ethics committee (now controlled via FIFA Council's removal power) clears him, he continues operating.
This isn't because Infantino is innocent. It's because the ethics system is compromised. When you can fire the watchdogs mid-investigation (as happened in 2017), the watchdogs learn not to bark.
INVESTIGATION 1: PRIVATE JET TRAVEL (2016-2017)
• Allegation: Infantino used private jets provided by sponsors/confederation officials
• Conflict: Sponsors providing perks may receive favorable treatment
• Ethics committee: Investigated
• Result: No action taken
INVESTIGATION 2: SWISS AG MEETINGS (2020)
• Allegation: Infantino held undisclosed meetings with Swiss Attorney General
• Context: AG Michael Lauber was investigating FIFA corruption
• Undisclosed meetings = potential obstruction/influence
• Fallout: Lauber resigned (2020), Infantino faced no consequences
• Ethics probe: Opened, then quietly closed
INVESTIGATION 3: RESIDENTIAL ARRANGEMENTS (2021)
• Allegation: Questions about Infantino’s living situation
• Potential issue: FIFA improperly covering personal expenses
• Ethics committee: Investigated
• Result: No wrongdoing found
THE PATTERN:
• Infantino gets investigated
• Ethics committee (now controllable via FIFA Council) reviews
• No wrongdoing found
• Infantino continues operating
WHY THIS HAPPENS:
• 2017: Infantino’s FIFA Council fired independent ethics chairs
• Replacements know they serve at Council’s pleasure
• Watchdogs who investigate Infantino risk removal
• Result: Ethics system investigates everyone except the President
When you can fire the watchdogs, the watchdogs learn not to bark.
What Actually Changed After 2015
Let's assess what FIFA's reforms actually accomplished:
What improved:
- Cash bribes are rarer (too risky post-DOJ prosecutions)
- Financial disclosures slightly better (though still limited)
- Some governance structures formalized (FIFA Council, clearer rules)
What didn't change:
- FIFA still awards World Cups to authoritarian regimes (Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, Saudi 2034)
- FIFA still sits on billions in reserves while paying players 3%
- FIFA executives still negotiate opaque deals with undisclosed payments
- Ethics oversight is still controlled by the people it's supposed to investigate
What got worse:
- Corruption is now hidden in corporate structures (harder to prosecute)
- Sovereign wealth funds buy influence through "legitimate" partnerships
- Private equity profits from FIFA data monopolies with undisclosed terms
- Players have even less leverage (no CBA, no revenue sharing framework)
The 2015 reforms addressed symptoms (individual bribes) but not the disease (FIFA's structure allows systematic extraction).
And when those reforms threatened people in power — as they did when ethics chairs investigated Infantino — the reforms were dismantled.
Why Reform Is Impossible From Within
FIFA can't reform itself because FIFA's structure is designed to prevent reform.
Here's why:
1. FIFA is controlled by national federations, not by independent oversight. The FIFA Council and Congress are made up of representatives from member federations. These federations benefit from FIFA funding (development grants, tournament revenue). They won't vote to reduce FIFA's power or revenue because that would reduce their own funding.
2. The FIFA President is elected by the same federations FIFA funds. This creates a patronage system: Infantino can direct FIFA Forward grants and other funding to federations that support him. Federations that oppose him risk losing funding. So federations vote for whoever controls the money.
3. Ethics oversight can be overridden by political bodies. The 2017 purge proved this. When "independent" ethics chairs became inconvenient, the FIFA Council (a political body) removed them. Any watchdog that threatens powerful people can be fired.
4. FIFA has no external accountability. FIFA is a Swiss non-profit. Swiss law is permissive for non-profits (allows reserve accumulation, limited disclosure). FIFA faces no shareholders, no board elected by players/fans, no democratic accountability. The only check on FIFA's power is criminal prosecution (which is rare and difficult).
5. Players have no power. Unlike the NFL (where players have a union and can strike), FIFA players have no collective bargaining framework. They can't withhold labor. They can't force revenue sharing. They're atomized across national federations that prioritize federation interests over player interests.
The result: FIFA is structurally unreformable from within. The only reforms that survive are reforms that don't threaten power. And reforms that threaten power get dismantled.
The Legacy of Failed Reforms
Ten years after the 2015 scandal, FIFA operates nearly identically to how it operated before:
- Generates billions (now $11B per cycle, up from $7.57B)
- Pays players nothing (3% indirect via club release fees)
- Awards World Cups to authoritarian regimes (Saudi 2034)
- Takes money from sovereign wealth funds and state-owned enterprises (PIF, Aramco)
- Negotiates opaque commercial deals with undisclosed payments (Stats Perform)
- Sits on billions in reserves ($3.9B) while claiming to reinvest in development
The only difference: the corruption is harder to see because it's structured through corporate partnerships instead of cash bribes.
Post 5 will document why players can't fight back: no CBA, no union with negotiating power, zero leverage. FIFA extracts 16 times more from players than the NFL does — and players can't do anything about it.
WHAT’S CONFIRMED (Primary Sources):
• 2015 scandal: 14 indicted, $150M in bribes documented (DOJ indictment)
• Infantino elected Feb 2016: On reform platform (FIFA announcement)
• 2017 ethics purge: Borbély and Eckert removed May 2017 (FIFA statement, media reports)
• 100+ open investigations: Reported at time of removal (multiple sources)
• Infantino ethics probes: Private jets, Swiss AG meetings, residential arrangements (documented in media)
• Michael J. Garcia reaction: Called removal “setback for reform” (quoted in press)
WHAT’S INFERRED (Clearly Labeled):
• “Reforms dismantled”: Our characterization of 2017 ethics purge + subsequent changes
• “New corruption model”: Our analysis connecting Saudi deals, Stats Perform, PIF web
• “Structurally unreformable”: Our conclusion based on FIFA’s governance structure
WHY THIS MATTERS:
FIFA promised reform after 2015 scandal. Implemented changes for 15 months. Then
dismantled ethics oversight when it threatened people in power. Corruption didn’t
end — it evolved from cash bribes to corporate partnerships. Harder to prosecute,
same extraction model.
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