Five years later, FIFA still reeling from World Cup votes

By foxsports
Published

ZURICH --

The date Dec. 2, 2010, will forever mark a turning point in the scandalous story of FIFA.

Five years ago, a widely discredited FIFA executive committee chose Russia to host the 2018 World Cup and gave the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

It ended a wild bidding contest that lured royalty and heads of state to Zurich for the vote. Former president Bill Clinton and Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman were on the United States team, which lost out to Qatar.

The fallout was only just starting.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said the outcome that day led to the U.S. Department of Justice's ongoing investigation of bribery in world soccer. Swiss federal prosecutors are still looking for evidence of money laundering linked to the bidding campaign, which was tainted by corruption allegations even before the vote.

The verdict of a FIFA investigation led by former U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia was that most of the nine bid candidates were involved in wrongdoing but it did not affect the results.

Russian and Qatari bid officials have always denied wrongdoing.

Still, their victories came from a group of FIFA men whose collective integrity has since been shredded.

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SEPP BLATTER (Switzerland, executive committee member 1998-currently suspended)

The suspended FIFA president faces a life ban from the ethics committee over a payment of $2 million of FIFA money to Michel Platini in 2011. Switzerland's attorney general also opened criminal proceedings for suspected criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of FIFA funds.

JULIO GRONDONA (Argentina, 1988-2014)

Died in July 2014. Longtime FIFA finance committee chairman implicated in approving $10 million payment through FIFA to Jack Warner in 2008. The U.S. Department of Justice indictment published in May alleges it was a bribe from 2010 World Cup host South Africa.

ISSA HAYATOU (Cameroon, 1990-present)

Interim FIFA president in Blatter's absence. Denied claims made at a British Parliamentary hearing in 2011 that he got a seven-figure bribe to vote for Qatar. Reprimanded by the IOC in 2011 for taking cash from FIFA's then-marketing agency partner in the 1990s.

CHUNG MONG-JOON (South Korea, 1994-2011)

Was a FIFA presidential contender when banned for six years by FIFA ethics committee in October. Sanctioned for misconduct during investigation of allegations linked to South Korea's 2022 bid. Billionaire member of family that owns World Cup sponsor Hyundai.

JACK WARNER (Trinidad and Tobago, 1983-2011)

Banned for life by FIFA ethics committee in September for misconduct during 2018-2022 bidding alleged in Garcia report. Resigned in June 2011 to avoid sanctions in the bribery case that ended Mohamed bin Hammam's presidential ambitions.

ANGEL MARIA VILLAR (Spain, 1998-present)

Fined $25,000 and warned by FIFA ethics committee last month for minor misconduct during Garcia investigation which he tried to stop. Former Spain international and leader of the Spain-Portugal bid for 2018, which Blatter said had a rule-breaking voting pact with Qatar.

MICHEL PLATINI (France, 2002-currently suspended)

FIFA heir apparent who faces a life ban this month. The UEFA president denies wrongdoing in taking $2 million in uncontracted pay for working as Blatter's adviser a decade earlier. Blamed by Blatter for Qatar's victory by helping switch four decisive European votes after meeting with then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Qatar's crown prince in November 2010.

GEOFF THOMPSON (England, 2007-2011)

Untainted by corruption allegations as leading figure in England's 2018 bid.

MICHEL D'HOOGHE (Belgium, 1988-present)

Doctor and long-serving chairman of the FIFA medical committee. Cleared by ethics committee over a painting he accepted from friend on Russian bid team, and how his son later got a job at a sports medicine clinic in Qatar. Identified by Blatter supporters as a Platini follower in switching votes to Qatar.

RICARDO TEIXEIRA (Brazil, 1994-2012)

Widely reported to be ''Co-conspirator (hash)11'' in the American indictment. Longtime Brazilian soccer confederation president resigned in 2012 to avoid FIFA sanctions in a kickbacks scandal involving marketing company ISL and his onetime father-in-law, disgraced former FIFA president Joao Havelange. FIFA ethics committee is now investigating him again.

MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM (Qatar, 1996-2011)

Key figure in Qatar's victory. Then challenged Blatter for FIFA presidency in 2011 but was banned for life for bribing Caribbean voters. Won his appeal, so FIFA expelled him again for financial wrongdoing while he was serving as Asian soccer confederation president.

SENES ERZIK (Turkey, 1996-present)

Another possible voter switching to Qatar. Former UNICEF official who keeps low profile.

CHUCK BLAZER (United States, 1996-2013)

A leading figure in the United States bid for 2022 who later turned whistleblower on his longtime ally Warner and Bin Hammam in the 2011 bribery case. In the fallout, his and CONCACAF's tax affairs became a federal case that grew into the U.S. indictment, with Blazer as star cooperating witness.

WORAWI MAKUDI (Thailand, 1997-2015)

Currently suspended for 90 days pending an ethics committee investigation, apparently over election fraud at his home federation. Bin Hammam ally who survived previous allegations of wrongdoing.

NICOLAS LEOZ (Paraguay, 1998-2013)

Indicted in the American case on bribery charges, now fighting extradition to the United States. Resigned as CONMEBOL president in 2013 to avoid FIFA sanctions in the ISL kickbacks case.

JUNJI OGURA (Japan, 2002-2011)

Supporter of the failed Japan bid for 2022 who left FIFA with a clean reputation after reaching Asian age limit of 70.

MARIOS LEFKARITIS (Cyprus, 2007-present)

Loyal to Platini and said to have followed him switching votes from the U.S. to Qatar. Garcia looked at a 32 million euro deal by the Lefkaritis family to sell land in Cyprus to Qatari sovereign wealth fund after the vote.

JACQUES ANOUMA (Ivory Coast, 2007-2015)

Was financial adviser to former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo, who was ousted in 2011. Like Hayatou, denied British lawmakers' claims he was paid to vote for Qatar.

FRANZ BECKENBAUER (Germany, 2007-2011)

Iconic player and coach being investigated by the ethics committee for not cooperating with Garcia. Lead organizer of 2006 World Cup, now denying allegations in Germany of operating slush fund to pay FIFA voters.

RAFAEL SALGUERO (Guatemala, 2007-2015)

Third man of CONCACAF delegation at FIFA, a lawyer who seemed to make little impression.

HANY ABO RIDA (Egypt, 2009-present)

Bin Hammam ally who joined him in Trinidad in 2011 when bribes were paid to Caribbean voters.

VITALY MUTKO (Russia, 2009-present)

Russian sports minister and close to President Vladimir Putin who was driving force of successful 2018 bid. Now under scrutiny from World Anti-Doping Agency inquiry which alleged his ministry was complicit in state-supported doping in track and field and other sports.

AMOS ADAMU (Nigeria, 2006-2010)

Barred from World Cup votes while serving three-year ban for seeking bribes from undercover Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists in 2018-2022 bid contest. Now faces a fresh FIFA ethics investigation.

REYNALD TEMARII (Tahiti, 2004-2010)

Then-FIFA vice president barred from voting while serving a one-year ban for unethical discussions with Sunday Times reporters. Later got an eight-year ban for taking 300,000 euros from Bin Hammam to pay legal fees during the first case.