Former 21st Century Fox Executive Convicted in FIFA Bribery Scheme

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW!

• Former 21st Century Fox executive Hernan Lopez was found guilty of conspiring to commit wire fraud and launder money in an alleged scheme to bribe FIFA officials for lucrative soccer game broadcasting rights.
• Argentinian sports marketing company Full Play Group S.A. was also convicted in the same case.
• Lopez faces up to 40 years in prison and millions of dollars in penalties, while Full Play faces millions of dollars in financial penalties.

Hernan Lopez, a former executive of 21st Century Fox, has been found guilty in a federal court in New York for conspiring to commit wire fraud and launder money in an alleged scheme to bribe FIFA officials for broadcasting rights of soccer games.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday. However, the co-defendant Carlos Martinez was acquitted on the same charges. The case stems from a corruption investigation into international soccer and FIFA, resulting in several convictions since 2015.

The prosecution alleged that Lopez paid millions of dollars in bribes to South American soccer officials to obtain broadcasting rights of the Copa Libertadores, the region’s most popular club tournament, and other events.

He also relied on the loyalty secured through bribes to further the business interests of Fox, including obtaining confidential bidding information for the rights to broadcast the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments in the U.S. Fox successfully secured the broadcasting rights for these tournaments.

Hernan Lopez faces up to 40 years in prison and millions of dollars in penalties, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Argentinian sports marketing company Full Play Group S.A., also convicted in the case, faces millions of dollars in financial penalties.

The verdict is a part of a broader investigation into corruption in international soccer and FIFA. This case reinforces the U.S. government’s efforts to eradicate corruption in global soccer.

Source: axios.com