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FIFA Probe Nabs its Biggest Fish: Former Honduran President

Rafael Callejas admits to taking bribes as FIFA probe continues.

GettyImages-112074725
GettyImages-112074725

The U.S. investigation into corruption within FIFA, the world’s governing body for soccer, just claimed its most prominent scalp: former Honduran President Rafael Callejas, who pleaded guilty to charges that he participated in bribery schemes Monday.

The U.S. investigation into corruption within FIFA, the world’s governing body for soccer, just claimed its most prominent scalp: former Honduran President Rafael Callejas, who pleaded guilty to charges that he participated in bribery schemes Monday.

Callejas, 72, who also served as president of the Honduran football federation, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, to charges of accepting bribes from a marketing firm during his tenure as the Honduran football chief. He is the first former head of state to admit to taking illegal payouts; in his case, they came in connection with the awarding of broadcasting rights for the Honduran national soccer team’s home World Cup qualifier matches for the 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions of the World Cup.  He is also one of 42 people and entities charged by the United States in connection with more than $200 million kickbacks and bribes paid in connection with marketing and broadcast rights to tournaments and matches.

On Monday, Callejas admitted accepting a $500,000 bribe from a Florida-based marketing firm, Media World, during his tenure as former head of the Honduran football federation and member of FIFA’s Television and Marketing committee. He initially denied the charges.

Callejas faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 5. He also agreed to forfeit $650,000.

FIFA did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn referred Foreign Policy to a statement announcing the plea agreement.

His guilty plea shows just how widespread graft in international football had spread under the watch of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who is currently banned from football. Honduras is a blip on the radar of international football; it has qualified for the World Cup in 1982, 2010 and 2014 but has not won a single match. It was clearly big enough, though, to attract the attention of companies looking for corrupt officials willing to give them a leg up on broadcast rights.

Photo credit: ORLANDO SIERRA/Getty Images

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