FBI Raids Miami Headquarters In Relation To FIFA Scandal
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The FBI carried out computers and more than a dozen boxes out of the South Beach headquarters of CONCACAF – the organization that oversees soccer in the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.
The raid began early Wednesday morning as 14 executives were arrested. Some of the arrests taking place at a FIFA conference in Zurich. Among the arrested, there were two who call South Florida home.
Costas Takkas, who worked for CONCACAF's president, and Aaron Davidson, President of Traffic Sports USA.
Traffic Sports USA holds the rights to major soccer events like the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Champions League.
CLICK HERE to watch Carey Codd's report
Davidson is also chairman of the North American Soccer League and owns a team in North Carolina. Wednesday they "suspended Chairperson Aaron Davidson".
As for the team, the league said it "will continue to operate in the ordinary course of business."
Defense attorney David Weinstein, who reviewed the indictment, says the scheme was pretty simple.
"You had a business that was operating like a criminal enterprise," said Weinstein. "They were taking millions and millions in bribes. They were setting up corporations to promote the soccer tournaments and if you didn't pay them bribe, you didn't get the tournament. And on top of all that they had the audacity in their oral regulations ethics codes that specifically says you cannot pay a bribe. You can't solicit a bribe."
New York's U.S. Attorney General believes the executives skimmed upwards of $150 million off the enterprise.
"They were expected to uphold the rules that keep soccer honest and to respect the integrity of the game," said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. "Instead they corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interest and enrich themselves."
Play by play broadcaster Phil Schoen has called three World Cups. He says this has been long rumored, so today shouldn't come as a surprise to soccer fans.
"It could be viewed as a black eye in some ways," said Schoen. "But it could also be viewed as a chance to do things right."
The United States Soccer Federation released the following statement on Wednesday.
The United States Soccer Federation firmly believes there is no higher priority, and nothing more important, than protecting the integrity of our game. We are committed to the highest ethical standards and business practices, and we will continue to encourage CONCACAF and FIFA to promote the same values. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we will not speculate or comment further on this matter at this time.
