Today European officials and some soccer executives called for FIFA President Sepp Blatter to step down. Blatter agreed that corruption charges have brought "shame" on the sport, but insists he's just the man to help reform the organization -- despite the fact he's been at the top for decades. Yesterday, the US Department of Justice charged 14 of the sport's top executives with accepting millions of dollars in bribes over the years. The sweeping bribery investigation will expand to look at the award of the 2010 World Cup to South Africa. Swiss officials launched a separate criminal investigation into FIFA's awarding of both the 2022 Qatar and the 2018 Russia World Cups. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is accusing the United States of illegally persecuting people. Can the US reform a business as complex and global as the world's most beautiful game?
Fraud and Corruption in the World's Most Beautiful Game
More
- Guardian on Blatter's denying responsibility, rebuffs plea to resign
- Vinton on informant Chuck Blazer, key player in FIFA arrests scandal
- Vinton on IRS being after Blazer over millions in unpaid taxes
- Szymanski on whether a criminal case is the way to clean up FIFA
- Dorsey on Qatar, FIFA exposure of political corruption and corporate sponsor rethink
- Dorsey's 'The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer'
Credits
Guests:
- Bryan Graham - Guardian - @BryanAGraham
- Nathaniel Vinton - New York Daily News - @DownhillWriter
- Stefan Szymanski - University of Michigan - @sszy
- James Dorsey - Nanyang Technological University - @mideastsoccer