1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,159 Speaker 1: We began with a bombshell in the world of soccer. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: The morning of May two thousand and fifteen started badly 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: for FIFA officials, and it only got worse. The arrest 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: began early this morning at a luxury hotel in Zurich. 5 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: Switcher at last swooped shortly after dawn took several FIFA 6 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: high rollers away. Six soccer officials were taken into custody 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: at the Borlack hotel and readied for extradition to the 8 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: United States. The face charges that ranged from racketeering to 9 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: money laundry. Later that day, America's top law enforcement official, 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: Attorney General Lauretta Lynch, who had only been on the 11 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: job for a month, confirmed what so many soccer fans 12 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: had long suspected about FIFA. Many of the individuals and 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: organizations we will describe today were entrusted with keeping soccer 14 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: open and accessible to all. They held important responsibilities at 15 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: every level, from building soccer fields for children and developing 16 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: countries to Oregon rising the World Cup. Lynch said the 17 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: corruption within FIFA was rampant and systemic. They were expected 18 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: to uphold the rules that keeps soccer honest and to 19 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: protect the integrity of the game. Instead, they corrupted the 20 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and to 21 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: enrich themselves. I'm Connor Powell. This is episode three the indictments. 22 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: The massive one hundred and sixty four page indictment, which 23 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: when printed out, was as thick as the legal books 24 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: behind Lynch at the press conference, describe the global soccer 25 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: business in language normally reserved for drug cartels and mafia organizations. 26 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: This is an investigation that, according to the Justice Department, 27 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: spans a couple of decades, and according to them, FIFA 28 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: was being run as a criminal enterprise. So that's not 29 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: something you usually hear about world soccer. According to the 30 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: bi charged fourteen people, nine current and former FIFA officials, 31 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: and five other sports marketing executives. In all, the Department 32 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: of Justice handed down forty seven separate criminal counts. The 33 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: indictment alleges a pattern of fraud, bribery, and kickbacks that 34 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: netted international soccer officials and marketing executives fifty million dollars 35 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: over the last twenty four years. Like their criminal cousins 36 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: and organized crime, FIFA officials used a long list of 37 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: methods to hide their illegal activities. And move money. They 38 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: created shell companies, forged fake business contracts, and paid bribes 39 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: with envelopes stuffed full of cash. Here's the FBI director 40 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: James Comey. The day the indictments dropped, the game, according 41 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: to the allegations in this indictment, was hijacked. That field 42 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: that is so famously flat was made tilted in favor 43 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,519 Speaker 1: of those who are looking to gain at the expense 44 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 1: of countries and kids who were enjoying the game of soccer. 45 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: Among the indicted was the face of the new and 46 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: I'm doing air quotes here Corruption Free FIFA Vice President 47 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 1: Jeffrey Webb. A loyal FIFA man to the end, Webb 48 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: was among the soccer executive scene, rolling his suitcase emblazoned 49 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: with a FIFA logo through the Borlack Hotel as he 50 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: was taken out by police. Webb was accused of soliciting 51 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: and accepting at least six million dollars worth of bribes. 52 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: He won't be surprised to hear his predecessor, Jack Warner 53 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: was also indicted. Former President Warner accused of being especially greedy, 54 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: as he alone is alleged to have taken more than 55 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: ten million dollars in bribes over a nineteen year period 56 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: and amassed a personal fortune from his ill gotten gains. 57 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: Warner proudly and loudly declared himself an innocent man, and 58 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: after turning him off into authorities in Trinidad, he left 59 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: jail in an ambulance, claiming get this exhaustion. Hours after 60 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: he was released from jail, the former fee for executant 61 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: politician was defiant because he addressed a rally dressed in 62 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: a brightly colored, obnoxious lime green shirt and baseball cap. 63 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: The then seventy two year old Warner compared his few 64 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: hours in jail to Nelson Mandela's twenty seven years in prison. 65 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: It was even for him, nuts ever, the hustler. He 66 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: then gathered with his political supporters in dance to Bob 67 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: Marley's Three Little Birds with that well known refrain. The 68 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: scene was, as comedian John Oliver accurately pointed out, Bana's 69 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: that is cocky as songs go. That's a little on 70 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: the nose. I guess we're just lucky that he didn't go, 71 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: We've got your money by old dirty bastard. Which, come 72 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: to think about all three was that described Jack Warner perfectly, 73 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: but Warner's clowning wasn't over. A few days later, he 74 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: recorded an eight minute video for social media where he claimed, 75 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: the American indictments against FIFA and himself we're all part 76 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: of a grand conspiracy motivated by get this logic, a 77 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: US desire to host a World Cup tournament that very year, 78 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: that very month, that very night. As proof of his theory, 79 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: Warner held up an article that stated, FIFA frantically announces 80 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: two thousand fifteen Summer World Cup in United States. IFFA 81 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: so bad? Why is it the US? It wants to keep? 82 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: The only problem that article Warner defiantly waived was from 83 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: the satirical news website The Onion. The claim that the 84 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: matches of the hastily organized World Cup would start that 85 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: very day probably should have been an obvious clue that 86 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: it was a fake article home, But does Warner strike 87 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: you as a you know, read to the end of 88 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: the article type of guy? Me neither. His bizarre antics 89 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: received a good deal of attention and helped distract from 90 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: the long list of v I P soccer officials who 91 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: got indicted but who were far less entertaining. Seven other 92 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: officials or former officials from FIFA's body in North and 93 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: South America are charged. Executives from three sports marketing companies 94 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: are also accused of paying bribes and contracts for major tournaments. 95 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: As you heard, Lynch indicted nine former and current FIFA officials. 96 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,799 Speaker 1: It's a long list that ranges from FIFA board members 97 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: like eduard O Lee from Costa Rica to former Commonbeat 98 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: president Nicholas Leo's of Paraguay, and of course it included 99 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: Warner and Webb. But what about Chuck Blazer. He had 100 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: already played guilty to ten counts of racketeering, money laundering, 101 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: and wire fraud when he flipped. Oh, when the Feds 102 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: had already he charged Jack Warner's two sons, Darryl and 103 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: Darren Warner in two thousand thirteen. The Warner boys were 104 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: working as go between for their father and we're nailed 105 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: while visiting Miami for wire fraud in connection to selling 106 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: World Cup tickets. So everything really wasn't going to be 107 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: all right for Warner. Speaking of Miami, Jose Avila, the 108 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: godfather of Brazilian soccer, did like Blazer and played guilty. 109 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: Avila admitted to four counts of racketeering, wire fraud, and 110 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: obstruction of justice. He agreed to forfeit a staggering one 111 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty one million dollars in illegal profits. The 112 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: indictments were, as the I R. S Is Richard Webber described, unprecedented. 113 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: This really is the World Cup of fraud, and today 114 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: we're issuing FIFA a red card. As thorough and detailed 115 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: as the US indictments were, they never explicitly said why 116 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: the U. S Department of Justice had decided to delve 117 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: into the culture of corruption at FIFA, which by all 118 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: accounts had been operating this way for years, probably decades. 119 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: So why now? While no U S officials said it 120 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: to anyone watching that day, it was perfectly clear. And 121 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: then there's the other investigation. The investigation began after the 122 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: US narrowly lost the two thousand and twenty two World 123 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: Cup to the country of Cutter amid allegations of bribery. 124 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: But almost immediately there were questions about the wisdom of 125 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: holding the World Cup in the Arabian desert heat in 126 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: one of the hottest places on Earth. Listen, you already 127 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: know the selection of Russia and Qatar for the two thousand, 128 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: eighteen and two thousand and twenty two World Cups were 129 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: riddled with accusations of collusion. That knowledge colored every comment 130 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: and statement made by Lynch and the other d o 131 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: J officials that day the indictments were announced, Yet none 132 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: of the charges on fifteen were directly related to those 133 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: now discredited bids in Despite hours of secret recordings made 134 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: by Chuck Blazer and the inside information from Jose Avila, 135 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: none of the corruption outlined in the indictment directly implicated 136 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: FIFA presidents set Bladder. Bladder, who ran FIFA while all 137 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: these dirty deals took place, was curiously absent from the 138 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: charging papers. In nearly twenty years running football's governing body, 139 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 1: billions have poured into FIFA's coffers from sponsors and broadcasters 140 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 1: and back out again to football administrators around the world. 141 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: FIFA has lurched from graft scandal to graft scandal, but 142 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,719 Speaker 1: Blatter has always walked away unscathed. FIFA's presidents seemed to 143 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: be in the clear for now, but questions about Qatar 144 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,319 Speaker 1: and Russia lingered, and Lauretta Lynch hinted that Bladder could 145 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,599 Speaker 1: still be a target. I'm not going to comment on 146 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: the stage at us of any individual who has isn't 147 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: named to date. The announcement today is about the charges 148 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: involving just these individuals, and I'm not able to comment 149 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 1: further on Mr bladders status. The message was obvious if 150 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: you have any information about corruption inside FIVA, speak up 151 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: now or take your chances riding out. The storm was set. 152 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,599 Speaker 1: Oh and it was also really clear the d o 153 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,199 Speaker 1: J wasn't through with its work and the two thousand 154 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: twenty two World Cup bid rigging, well not in the indictment, 155 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: was at the heart of the investigation. So let's go 156 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: back and talk about what happened. It was snowing in 157 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,599 Speaker 1: Zurich the night before FIFA's Executive Committee was set to 158 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: vote on which two countries would get the two thousand 159 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: and eighteen and two thousand and twenty two World Cups. 160 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: The soft glow of the city's lights reflected off the 161 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: fallen snow, illuminating the streets lined with a mix of 162 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: modern and medieval buildings. Zurich is the center of Switzerland's 163 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: secretive financial and banking industries and home to FIFA, and 164 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: on this night before the two thousand and ten vote, 165 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: the city was teaming with celebrities. Eleven countries had submitted 166 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: nine bids to FIFA, two of them were joint proposals. 167 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: Each nation paraded a slew of a listeners to woo 168 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: the lords of soccer in the wood paneled bar of 169 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: the Bar Lack, Yes, the very same hotel that would 170 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: be rated five years later. Soccer icon David Beckham sipped 171 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: single malt whiskey and pressed England's case to host the 172 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: two thousand and eighteen World Cup. Prince William chatted up 173 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 1: Trinidad's notorious dealmaker Jack Warner, who was still a few 174 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: months away from getting caught trying to rig the two 175 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: thousand and eleven presidential election. Australia dispatched the stunning L McPherson, 176 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: the supermodel known around the world as the Body, hoping 177 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: she'd uh peel to FIFA's all male executive committee. Six 178 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: sounds well, it does. And let's be honest, when you're 179 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: sitting there considering who you're gonna vote for, and L 180 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: walks out there in a beenie, in a bikinie, that 181 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 1: will get your attention. Former President Bill Clinton with factor 182 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: Morgan Freeman and tow shilled for the United States. Clinton 183 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: did what any good politician does, shake hands slapped backs 184 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: and stroked the sizeable egos of FIFA's voters. The US 185 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: had its eye on the two thousand twenty two bid. 186 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: I believe your commitment to make every World Cup something 187 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,959 Speaker 1: more than the contests of the game, to address the 188 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: larger challenges that all the players and their families and 189 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: their fellow countrymen and women faced back home, is one 190 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 1: of the defining characteristics of this great organization. Meanwhile, England 191 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: was feeling particularly plucky. There's a spring in Camp England's 192 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: step tonight and a sense that the three pronged attack 193 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: of the Prime Minister, Prince William and David Beckham is 194 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: paying dividends and the World Cup might just might be 195 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: within reach. When Russian Prime Minister of Vladimir Putin announced 196 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: he'd skip the proceedings in Zurich, it was taken as 197 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: a sign that Russia wasn't a true contender. In hindsight, 198 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: when Putin mocked the entire process, saying he wanted FIFA's 199 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: voters to make their decision free of outside pressure. The 200 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: English really everyone probably should have realized the fix was in, 201 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: but the English were confident, and they weren't the only 202 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: ones feeling cocky in the weeks before the vote. As 203 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: you heard, the US was focused on the World Cup, 204 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: and the American bid, like the English one, was rated 205 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: highly by FIFA. Both countries had modern stadiums, the ability 206 00:13:56,160 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 1: to accommodate large numbers of tourists, and the marketing opportunity, commercials, brandings. 207 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: All that corporate stuff were gold, which we know FIFA loves. Conversely, 208 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: Russia and Qatar scored poorly. They didn't have the modern 209 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: FIFA style stadiums, ample hotel rooms and convenient transportation options 210 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: of the rivals, and in the case of Qatar, where 211 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: temperatures soar above a hundred and ten degrees fahrenheit, the 212 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: idea of a summer tournament seemed out of the question. 213 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: And Russia and Qatar's history of human rights abuses, while 214 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: frequently raised by Western media, they were less of a 215 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: concern for FIFA. Despite all of the red flags, became 216 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: clear to everyone Russia and Qatar were serious contenders as 217 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: the soccer World gathered in Zurich that snowy evening in 218 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: December of two thousand and ten, especially since there was 219 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: a growing suspicion that FIFA's two voters were taking more 220 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: than just the technical and commercial aspects of the bids 221 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: into account. It is indeed a great day today, on 222 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: this second of December. If you're still skeptical about the 223 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: importance and power of FIFA, I want you to consider 224 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: the moment before the winning bids were announced in two 225 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: thousand and ten, hundreds of government leaders and celebrities had 226 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: flown in from around the world to crowd into the 227 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: Zurich Convention Center, every one of them forced to hand 228 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: over their mobile phones to security. Hundreds of millions of 229 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: TVs around the world flipped on to watch FIFA's announcement, 230 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: and all of the wanna be host nations fans assembled 231 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: at watch parties, hand clinching, chewing their fingernails. Up on 232 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: the stage under the bright lights, stood set Bladder, FIFA's 233 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: longtime president. Every so often, a camera cut to the crowd, 234 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: catching glimpses of the v I P s in the room, 235 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: Bill Clinton, L. McPherson, Prince William Morgan, Freeman, David Cameron, 236 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: David Beckham, zadan Za Dane. Normally these celebrities are the 237 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: center of their own universe, but now they just have 238 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: to wait, like millions of fans around the world for 239 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: Bladder to open the envelopes set. Bladder is at this 240 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: moment the most important man in their world, and he 241 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: knows it. Like a symphony conductor. He's playing on the 242 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: crowd's emotions, cracking jokes, thanking people. As everyone waits, you 243 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: can see it on their faces. Sep get to the announcement. 244 00:16:55,440 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: Andy will eventually, like a smiling next accutioner, he will 245 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: rip open the first envelope and rip out the hearts 246 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: of so many people with his announcement. There are no 247 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: happy faces in this crowd. Instead, they project a spectrum 248 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: of pain, anxiety and fear. There's so much writing on 249 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: this moment. Bladder, an elderly swissman with an Elvish grin 250 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 1: at the corner of his mouth, is at this moment 251 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: the puppet master of global soccer, of global politics. Really, 252 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:34,159 Speaker 1: finally he tears open the first envelope and so the 253 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: FIFA Volt Cup ladies and gentlemen will be organized. In Russia, 254 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: the Russians celebrated the English delegation sits stone faced. I 255 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: couldn't believe what they had just heard. Prince William looked 256 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: on in disbelief. The head of the England bit just 257 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: stead into space. You can imagine what they're thinking. Russia, 258 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: corrupt Russia, pudent's Russia. A few minutes later, as the 259 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: Americans are ready to jump up with chance of USA USA, 260 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 1: bladder opens the second envelope. The winner to organize the 261 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: two twenty two FIFA vote Cup is Ka. The ecstatic 262 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: Qatari delegation jumps up in the air, hugging each other, 263 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: pumping their fists. The rest of the room sat in silence. 264 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 1: What had just happened? Then the whispers began. The journalist 265 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 1: Grant Wall was in the room that day. He remembers 266 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: everyone around him looking at each other asking in disbelief Qatar, Russia, 267 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: Russia and Qatar. Instantly there was like shaking of heads 268 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: of like something shady has happened here. Reporters and commentators 269 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: wondered aloud. How is it possible that these two countries, 270 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,120 Speaker 1: the most ill suited and ill prepared nations, had won 271 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: over the United States, in England, over Australia, South Korea, Japan, 272 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: the joint bids of Spain and Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands. 273 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: It's easy to point the finger at Russia and Qatar 274 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: to claim they rig the vote. But you see, they 275 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: simply played the dirty game that FIFA created. FIFA not 276 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: only encouraged, but designed an entire selection process that chose 277 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 1: World Cup hosts in that indirect light that set Bladder 278 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: was so fond of. But when the process gets too dark, 279 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: too shady, too murky, people start asking questions, and for FIFA, 280 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 1: the answers to those questions would lead to an avalanche 281 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: of other questions, questions that couldn't be answered without doing 282 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: some significant damage to FIFA itself. That day, I think 283 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: is probably the most important day in the history of 284 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: FIFA in the one century in terms of what it 285 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: set in motion. The losing bidders had plenty of reason 286 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: to ask what had happened with Russian Qatar. It wasn't 287 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: just bruised national pride or first World privilege. Months before 288 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: a newspaper investigation raised serious concerns about vote rigging, Ronald 289 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: Tamari was relaxed, a native of the small island nation 290 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: of Tahiti, to marry. Often projected a cool, calm beachgoer vibe. 291 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: On this fall day in two thousand and ten, just 292 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 1: a couple of months before the World Cup vote. The 293 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: top two buttons of his light blue dress shirt were open. 294 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 1: Why should a meeting with American lobbyists be so formal? 295 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: To Marry was the sole representative of FIFA's Pacific Island 296 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: Confederation a k OCEANA and on FIFA's Executive Committee. He 297 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: was used to meeting with representatives of countries looking to 298 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: host the World Cup, so Mary knew why these lobbiests 299 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: had traveled such a long way to see him at 300 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: his office in Auckland, New Zealand. The only question was 301 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: how badly did they want to host the World Cup. Already, 302 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: two other bidders had offered a millions for his vote. 303 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: So when the lobbyists, who said they were from a 304 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: consortium of American businesses hoping to bring the World Cup 305 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 1: to the US in two thousand and twenty two, offered 306 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 1: to pay to Marry for his support, he left at 307 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: the chance. He told his guests he was looking for 308 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: about two million dollars to build a sports academy. Is 309 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: it something safe, for example, that that our consortium might 310 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: be able to Yes, distress on tape, you're here to 311 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: Marry tell the two visiting lobbyists he was open to 312 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 1: accepting money for a new sports academy. But the visitors 313 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:10,399 Speaker 1: they weren't lobbyists, a big headline story for a British newspaper, 314 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,479 Speaker 1: a big headache for World football's governing body. They were 315 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: reporters for The Sunday Times, a major British newspaper, and 316 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: they had just filmed Tamari agreeing to sell his vote, 317 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: or at least suggesting he was open to selling it. 318 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: He wasn't the only one the Sunday Times caught on tape. 319 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: Nigeria's FIFA executive committee member was filmed agreeing to sell 320 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 1: his vote and asked that the money be sent directly 321 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:40,199 Speaker 1: to him instead of his federation. FIFA acted quickly when 322 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 1: the news broke. The two men were suspended from voting 323 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: in the upcoming selection process. But what shady dealings hadn't 324 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: been caught on tape. The magnitude of the decision to 325 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: select Qatar and Russia unleashed a tidal wave of accusations 326 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 1: about bribes and vote trading. Millions of pounds and knighthood 327 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: and a brand new sports facility just some of the 328 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: backhanders which football officials have allegedly demanded in exchange for 329 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: backing World Cup bids. Some people actually think this is 330 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: a genuine competition. It's not. It's about deals and double 331 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: deals and counter deals. That's Bonita Mercades. She's a long 332 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: time sports marketing executive in Australia and she was part 333 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: of the team back in her country's two thousand and 334 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: twenty two bid. After spending some fifty million dollars of 335 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: taxpayer money on flashy videos and lobbyists, Australia's World Cup 336 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: bid failed spectacularly. Australia has bid to host the two 337 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: World Cup has come to a crushing end. It's got 338 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: just one vote from the twenty two FIFA executive members. 339 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 1: For two years before the vote tanked. In Zurich, Mercats 340 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: saw firsthand just how dodgy the entire World Cup selection 341 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: process was. Her Australian boss has fired her in two 342 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: thousand and ten. She says for raising concerns about FIFA's 343 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: bidding process, and it sounds terrible to say so, but 344 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: you only had to meet some of these people to 345 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: think that these people don't do business the same way 346 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: as other people do business. FIFA's process has been criticized 347 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: for years, not only for the clear cut cases of 348 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: bribery and vote buying, but also for the vast gray 349 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: areas that invite corruption, guidelines that say don't do this, 350 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: but at the same time say absolutely do this. So, 351 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 1: for example, running the two bids together two. On the 352 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: one hand, the bidding guideline said, don't collude with another bidder, 353 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,440 Speaker 1: but on the other hand, we were running two bids 354 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 1: at the same time, the FIFA was running two bids 355 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 1: at the same time. The obvious thing when you're strategizing 356 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: a campaign to win something, and that's what it's all about, 357 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,919 Speaker 1: was that you would find other bidding nations who, for instance, 358 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: may have wanted while you were content to go for two, 359 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: and talk about how you could collude. FIVA's rules are 360 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: clear bribery and vote buying are prohibited, but they also 361 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: encourage bidders to leave a quote legacy, a sort of 362 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: FIFA gift to the voting association that isn't supposed to 363 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: be interpreted as a bribe, but in reality pretty much 364 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: looks like a bribe. We had to leave a legacy 365 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: from the bid, not a legacy from the World Cup itself, 366 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,640 Speaker 1: because that came later, but a legacy from running the bid, 367 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: which is just a ridiculous notion. So if you've got 368 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: to have a legacy from running the bid and there 369 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,399 Speaker 1: are only twenty four voters, what do you do? You 370 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: asked those twenty four voter as well, what would you 371 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: like that we can help you in terms of legacy 372 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: from our bid? Once the what would you like question 373 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 1: is asked, it's only a matter of time before demands 374 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: are made. Remember that sports academy that Ronald Simari asked for, 375 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: and then there were the demands of Jack Warner, King 376 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: of the Grift. But first a point of clarification. You 377 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: heard her say twenty four voters, but there were only 378 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: two voters in zero in two thousand and ten. That's 379 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 1: because Tamari and the Nigerian executive were booted off after 380 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: the Sunday Times investigation. When it came to Jack Warner 381 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,159 Speaker 1: over it doesn't even begin to describe it. There was 382 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: no subtlety about his requests, whether it be a piece 383 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:30,920 Speaker 1: of jewelry, whether it be paying for travel and accommodation 384 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 1: related to a Trinidad and Tobago under twenty team, whether 385 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: it be for funds to supposedly upgrade a stadium in 386 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: Trinidad and Tobago, it didn't matter what it was, there 387 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: was nothing overt about it. Among Jack Warner's mini requests 388 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 1: in two thousand and ten, he wanted five thousand dollars 389 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: to upgrade soccer fields at conker Caalfs Center of Excellence, 390 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: which didn't actually belong to FIFA, but instead to Warner himself. 391 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 1: Long after Mercy Adez was fired, Australia paid the money 392 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 1: directly to Warner. They insisted it wasn't a bribe. Why 393 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 1: was Australia even thinking it was appropriate to be contributing 394 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: US five hundred thousand dollars to upgrade a stadium in 395 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 1: in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. And this is 396 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: part of the absurdity. Why would we do that? And 397 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: the only reason we did it is because Jack Warner 398 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:31,120 Speaker 1: asked for it. True to his reputation, Warner made multiple requests. 399 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: According to Lord David Treesman, who ran England's bid for 400 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: the two thousand and eighteen World Cup, Warner hit them 401 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,879 Speaker 1: up for roughly three million dollars. Treesman said Warner had 402 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 1: told him he wanted to leave his home of Trinidad's 403 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: a legacy. The English officials refused, you must be joking, Jack, 404 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: You're talking about probably two and a half million pounds. Jack. 405 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 1: Warner nodded at that and sat back. You didn't say anything. 406 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: He nodded, douchet, but then said that the funds could 407 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: be channeled through here and he would guarantee that they 408 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: were appropriately spent. But Warner, he wasn't the only one 409 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: looking for a payday. Nicolas Laos, the Paraguayan, told Lord 410 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 1: Treesman a knighthood would be appropriate, and the Tide delegate 411 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: Worri Mkudi wanted lucrative TV rights for a planned international friendly. 412 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: What shady games Russia might have engaged in, it isn't 413 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: clear because Moscow destroyed all of its emails and files 414 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: connected to its winning bid. There are rumors that Vladimir 415 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: Putin offered a Picasso painting to Michelle Platini, then the 416 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 1: president of UEFA, the European Football Association. The rumors about 417 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 1: the Picasso were never proven, but Russia did give an 418 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: unnamed painting of a landscape to a different FIFA executive 419 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: committee member, though Viva says the unnamed painting had no 420 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:02,239 Speaker 1: significant monetary value. Mean, you just can't make this stuff up. 421 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: And then there's Qatar, the unlikeliest of World Cup hosts. 422 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: The decision to award the tournament to Cutter was highly controversial. 423 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 1: Now millions of secret documents leaked to The Sunday Times 424 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: raised new questions over how Kata won the vote. At 425 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: the center of the new allegations is this man, Mohammed 426 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: bin Hammam. The key to Qatar's victory appears to have 427 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 1: been Mohammed bin Hammam, or, to be more specific, his money. 428 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: Email after email appears to show he was not only 429 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: backing Kata, but controlling a covert fund of five million 430 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: dollars to buy support and influence. As you recall, Bin 431 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: Hamma would later go on to challenge that ladder for 432 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: the FIFA presidency with some help from Jack Warner, which 433 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 1: would then send Chuck Blazer into a tail span and 434 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: inadvertently into the arms of the i r S. Bin 435 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 1: Hammam was not officially part of katar his bid team 436 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: in two thousand and ten, but he seems to have 437 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: bankrolled it and spread the money around been her mom, 438 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: paid bribes and operated slush funds to pay people who 439 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: had an influence on the vote. Former FIFA Vice president 440 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: Mohammed bin har Mom paid three point seven million euros 441 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 1: to delegates in return for their support for Qatar's World 442 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: Cup bid. Qatar defeated the US fourteen votes to AID 443 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 1: in the final round, and it's believed that many, maybe 444 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: even all, of Qatar's votes were bought in some form 445 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: or another. FIFA executive members Isa Hayatu of Cameroon and 446 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: Jack and Amo of the Ivory Coast each pocketed one 447 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: and a half million dollars to support Qatar, saying with 448 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: Nicholas Leo's of Paraguay, whose name you might remember from 449 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:55,240 Speaker 1: the two thousand and fifteen indictment. It's also alleged Ronald 450 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: Tamari and Amos Adamu, the Nigerian delegate, were offered money 451 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: by on one representing Qatar, with a million dollars just 452 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,719 Speaker 1: turning up in a bank account belonging to a Damu's son. 453 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 1: The only FIFA Executive Committee member that bin ha Mom 454 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,719 Speaker 1: and Qatar didn't try to bribe appears to have been 455 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: Chuck Blazer, who had the US one the two thousand 456 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 1: and twenty two tournament, would have become the King of 457 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: US soccer. Blazer often joked with his girlfriend that he 458 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: felt slighted he wasn't at least approached with cash. But 459 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: perhaps the most interesting Qatari deal is the one France made. 460 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: Ever since Qatar was awarded the two world cut back 461 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: in two thousand and ten has been this shadow of 462 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: alleged corruption, But there's always been a lot of intrigue 463 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 1: over Platini's choice to vote for Katar. Michelle Platini, the 464 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: former French soccer star, and you if a president at 465 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: the time, had, like Sep Ladder, been a supporter of 466 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: America's two thousand and need to bid. The two, according 467 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 1: to Bladder, had a gentleman's agreement to return the World 468 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 1: Cup to the US and tap into its massive media market. 469 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 1: But nine days before that fateful two thousand and ten 470 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: vote was set to take place, Platini was invited to 471 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: lunch within French President Nicolas Sarkozzi. The meeting was held 472 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: in secret in Paris just before that vote. Also at 473 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: the table Qatar's Prime minister Shaike Hammad bin Jessum and 474 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: the son of Qatar's ruler, Tomim al Thani. Platini denies 475 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: he was told who to vote for, but whatever was 476 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:40,719 Speaker 1: said at the meeting, it had an impact on him. 477 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 1: Platini then rode back on that promise he switched to 478 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:48,680 Speaker 1: support the Middle Eastern country. Platini acknowledged it was crystal 479 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:53,600 Speaker 1: clear who Sarkozy supported, but insisted that he himself didn't 480 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: bow to any political pressure. Speaking to Sky News several 481 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 1: years later, Platini tried to defend his decision. He's a 482 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 1: chance for here's a chance for a part of this 483 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 1: part of the world to receive the World Cups. Instead, 484 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: we're asked to believe Plantiny, once the best player in 485 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: the world, decided to stage the World Cup in a 486 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:20,360 Speaker 1: scorching hot desert country with no soccer history and no 487 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: soccer stadiums. Critics suggest the decision to bought Qatar was 488 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 1: made because of politics and trade, not for football reasons. 489 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:32,480 Speaker 1: Not long after Platini switched his support, a new economic 490 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:37,920 Speaker 1: relationship blossom between Qatar and France. Qatar bought fifty French 491 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 1: made Airbus A three twenty jumbo jets in French firms 492 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 1: have won lucrative construction contracts to build the required World 493 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 1: Cup infrastructure in Qatar. Oh and Sarkozy's favorite soccer team, 494 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 1: Paris Saint Germain, which had a famed history but no 495 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 1: money or recent success was bought by Qatar Sovereign Wealth Fund. 496 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 1: So yeah, you might conclude that lunch was a lot 497 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 1: more consequential than Platini was willing to admit. Let's review. 498 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: The U s Department of Justice had just indicted fourteen 499 00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 1: high ranking soccer officials and what was the largest global 500 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 1: corruption case in the history of the world, and it 501 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:25,800 Speaker 1: was happening to FIFA, an organization that says its entire 502 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: purpose is to spread fair play and inclusiveness by making 503 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: soccer a global sport. One name conspicuously left off the 504 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:40,320 Speaker 1: list Sep Ladder, the godfather of soccer. In our next episode, 505 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,759 Speaker 1: Ladder struggles to hold onto the reins of power. And 506 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: for those of you still listening, here's the rest of 507 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:51,480 Speaker 1: the officials who were indicted. In addition to Warner and Web, 508 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:56,440 Speaker 1: there were Eduardo Lee, a Costa Rican soccer official and 509 00:34:56,600 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 1: FIFA executive board member, Julio Rocha Lopez, a Nicaraguan who 510 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 1: oversaw FIFA's development projects in Central America, Costas Takas, a 511 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 1: British accountant and senior advisor with Conka calf Eugenio Figuretto, 512 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 1: a Uruguayan FIFA vice president, and past president of Commy Ball, 513 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 1: Raphael Equivil, a Venezuelan and executive with Commy Ball. Jose 514 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 1: Maria Morin, a Brazilian and chair of the two thousand 515 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: and fourteen Brazil World Cup. Nicholas Leo's a Paraguayan who 516 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:33,680 Speaker 1: was a former Commy Ball president and who also sat 517 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:37,959 Speaker 1: on FIFA's executive committee. That's a lot of names, and wait, 518 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:42,399 Speaker 1: there's more. In addition to the FIFA officials, five high 519 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 1: powered sports executives who did business with FIFA were also charged. 520 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: Alejandro Brazaco, the director of an Argentine sports marketing firm, 521 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:55,959 Speaker 1: Aaron Davidson, the North American president of Traffic Group, Jose 522 00:35:56,239 --> 00:36:01,320 Speaker 1: Marghali's a Brazilian broadcaster who facilitated million in bribes. And 523 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: there was Hugo and Mariano Yankis in Argentine father and 524 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:09,720 Speaker 1: son duo who ran the sports marketing company Full Play Group. 525 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: The Lords of Soccer Al FIFA Stole The Beautiful Game 526 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:25,160 Speaker 1: is an Inside Voices media production in conjunction with I 527 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. The series was written and executive produced by 528 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: Gary Scott and me Connor Powell, Logan Heftel and Katie 529 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:37,360 Speaker 1: mcmurran provided the sound design with assistance from j. C. 530 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 1: Swaddick and Jake Blue Note. Alec Cowen is our associate 531 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 1: producer and Jeffrey Katz was our story editor. Our fact 532 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 1: checker is Alexa O'Brien, and thanks to Miles Gray, who 533 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:52,320 Speaker 1: produced the series for I Heart Radio. If you have 534 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,640 Speaker 1: any comments or questions, please reach out. You can find 535 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:59,880 Speaker 1: us on Twitter. I'm at Connor M. Powell and Gary 536 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 1: is at Gary Robert Scott and if you have any 537 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:06,920 Speaker 1: stories about FIFA, let us know. If you like what 538 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 1: you hear, please give us a shout out at the 539 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:11,560 Speaker 1: hashtag Lords of Soccer