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FIFA Official Takes Bribe Bait
Reynaldo Vasquez, a former president of the El Salvadorean soccer federation, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in a Brooklyn federal court today. The 71-year-old Vasquez admitted to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks over a decades-long period.
According to court filings, Vasquez and his co-conspirators corrupted an enterprise comprising soccer organizing bodies and sports marketing companies. They solicited and received bribes and kickbacks in exchange for awarding lucrative media and marketing contracts. In 2012, Vasquez received approximately $350,000 in bribes in connection with the sale of media and marketing rights to El Salvador World Cup qualifying matches. The bribe payment was wired from a sports marketing company’s bank account in the United States.
Vasquez agreed to forfeit $360,000 and multiple bank accounts as part of his plea deal. When sentenced, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The guilty plea is part of a long-running investigation into corruption in international soccer led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI New York Field Office, and the IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office.
“With today’s guilty plea, Vasquez admits to engaging in a decades-long racketeering conspiracy to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks that corrupted the game of soccer,” stated Acting United States Attorney Jacquelien M. Kasulis. “Together with our law enforcement partners, this Office is committed to rooting out fraud and corruption in international soccer and to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system.”
“From the beginning of this intense and sprawling investigation, our goal has been to root out corrupt officials who thought no one noticed their illegal activities,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll. “Mr. Vasquez didn’t achieve his dream of wealth and power, and now he faces the possibility of many years in federal prison. Today’s plea should demonstrate to others who attempt to corrupt international soccer – we play to win.”
Vasquez was extradited from El Salvador to the United States on January 29, 2021. His guilty plea is the culmination of years of investigative work by IRS-CI Agents and their law enforcement partners. Over a period of many years, Vasquez corrupted the business of international soccer by requesting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks. IRS CI is committed to ending these practices and bringing corrupt officials to justice.
Today’s guilty plea is part of a long-running investigation that has resulted in 27 individual guilty pleas, 4 corporate guilty pleas, and 2 convictions at trial, among other resolutions. The prosecutors in Brooklyn have received considerable assistance from attorneys in various partner agencies.
“This case shows that no one is above the law, not even a former FIFA official,” said Acting United States Attorney Kasulis. “We will continue to work tirelessly to root out corruption and bring those responsible to justice.”
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the authorities.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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