Noses in the trough: Sepp Blatter and two disgraced deputies paid themselves US$80 million over five years, Fifa says
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and two other ex-top officials – secretary general Jerome Valcke and finance director 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, calling them “massive payouts”.
We look forward to showing Fifa that Mr Blatter’s compensation payments were proper, fair and in line with the heads of major professional sports leagues around the world
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 the 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, 80, did not wish to comment on the allegations, his spokesman said.
His US lawyer, Richard Cullen, said: “We look forward to showing Fifa that Mr Blatter’s compensation payments were proper, fair and in line with the heads of major professional sports leagues around the world.”
