Britain’s Fraud Office is investigating money laundering claims against football world governing body, FIFA.
Director of the Serious Fraud Office, David Green, told MPs in the culture, media and sport select committee, on Tuesday that the organisation was looking at potential money-laundering offences involving the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
One of these involved a £270,000 payment by the Australia 2022 bid committee to former FIFA Vice President, Jack Warner, which may have gone through London.
Green said the agency was still examining issues around possible money laundering but that he did not think it could examine FIFA under bribery laws.
“We are still examining issues around possible money laundering,” he said. “I can’t yet go into detail about that but there are several aspects to it and some new information has come to us quite recently.”
Green earlier told the parliamentary hearing that he did not believe his organisation had found any evidence of a British link that would enable the SFO to investigate FIFA for bribery.
“My position would be that we cannot touch FIFA with the Bribery Act as things stand,” he said, adding there could be a line of liability against sponsors if it could be established they had failed to follow adequate procedures.
FIFA is embroiled in the worst scandal of its 111-year history as embattled outgoing President, Sepp Blatter and former France midfielder and UEFA President, Michel Platini are suspended while FIFA investigates reports that a £1.35m payment was made in 2011 for work Platini did as Blatter’s adviser.
Both men deny any wrongdoing and are appealing against their 90-day bans.
The decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to Russia and Qatar respectively is also under investigation by the Swiss authorities.
