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FIFA puts Conmebol and Concacaf funding 'on hold' given 'current proceedings'

Tuesday, February 2nd 2016 - 11:59 UTC
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“...in light of current proceedings involving individuals related to Conmebol and Concacaf, FIFA has put contributions... on hold until further notice,” “...in light of current proceedings involving individuals related to Conmebol and Concacaf, FIFA has put contributions... on hold until further notice,”
A CONCACAF source said it had not received $10 million in payments from FIFA, including expected World Cup revenues and money from the Financial Assistance A CONCACAF source said it had not received $10 million in payments from FIFA, including expected World Cup revenues and money from the Financial Assistance
CONMEBOL is responsible for the sport in South America while CONCACAF covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. CONMEBOL is responsible for the sport in South America while CONCACAF covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

FIFA has cut off funding to the corruption-hit confederations for football in the Americas, the global football body said on Monday, in a move which could cause future cash flow problems for the two organizations.

 The two bodies, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, have been at the centre of a corruption scandal that has engulfed world football and seen 41 individuals and entities charged in the United States on a variety of graft-related offences.

“We can confirm that in light of current proceedings involving individuals related to CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, FIFA has put contributions towards these two Confederations on hold until further notice,” said a FIFA spokesperson.

“We are currently assessing further steps to be taken to increase the level of assurance which may again enable FIFA to release such funds in the future.”

A source close to CONCACAF said it had not received $10 million in payments from FIFA, including expected World Cup revenues and money from the global body's Financial Assistance Program.

CONMEBOL is responsible for the sport in South America while CONCACAF covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

In a statement, CONCACAF said it had fulfilled all FIFA requests for documents and information “regarding the new administrative, compliance, and procurement processes that have been implemented at the Confederation to ensure the issue is resolved in a timely manner”.

CONCACAF has seen its last three presidents indicted by the Department of Justice with Trinidad and Tobago's Jack Warner, Cayman Islander Jeffrey Webb and Honduran Alfred Hawit all facing charges.

CONMEBOL has had former president Nicolas Leoz and their most recent leader Juan Angel Napout, both of Paraguay, indicted along with several other leading officials.

The two organizations are due to hold a joint 'Copa America' tournament in the United States in June to celebrate CONMEBOL's centenary.

Top Comments

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  • Pytangua

    That's a good decision given that the newly appointed head of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Dominguez, is the latest in a long line of corrupt Paraguayan football officials that includes Leoz and Napout, both currently under detention/trial in the USA. Dominguez was the protege of both, as well as of the current president of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes, himself a former football empresario who worked closely with both Leoz and Napout. It is incredible that Dominguez was elected unanimously to the post last week. Latin American football remains mired in corruption, with the only pressure for change coming from outside the region.

    Feb 03rd, 2016 - 02:14 pm 0
  • ChrisR

    Isn't this lovely?

    One bunch of corrupt football twats pointing the finger at a similar bunch of twats!

    Shut the lot down and use the money to start afresh with the successor run by women!

    And I'm not joking.

    Feb 03rd, 2016 - 06:19 pm 0
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