Sepp Blatter among former officials to enrich themselves: Fifa
Soccer’s world governing body reveals that trio, including Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner, received US$80 million in World Cup bonuses and pay rises over five years
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and two other leading officials, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner, were involved in a “coordinated attempt” to enrich themselves through annual salary increases and World Cup bonuses, world soccer’s governing body said on Friday.
Fifa said an internal investigation revealed that the three officials had received US$80 million in compensation over five years.
We look forward to showing Fifa that Mr Blatter’s compensation payments were proper, fair
Fifa is attempting to recover from the worst graft scandal in its history in which 42 people, including former Fifa executive committee members, and entities have been indicted in the United States. Gianni Infantino was elected as president in February and promised to lead Fifa into calmer waters.
The ruling body said it had shared the information about salaries with the Swiss Attorney General’s office and the US Department of Justice and would continue to investigate.
Blatter did not wish to comment on the allegations, his spokesman said.
But his US-based lawyer said that the compensation payments Blatter received were “proper, fair and in line” with those of the heads of major professional sports leagues.
