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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Fraud and Corruption in the World's Most Beautiful Game

    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.

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    KCRW placeholderBy Barbara Bogaev • May 28, 2015 • 32m Listen

    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?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Can US Charges Spur Soccer Reform?
    1. 1:20FCC Wants to Expand Internet Access for the Poor
    2. 7:30Fraud and Corruption in the World's Most Beautiful GameYou’re reading this
    3. 40:43The Emotional Intelligence of Your Bacon
    • KCRW placeholder

      Barbara Bogaev

      radio journalist

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Benjamin Gottlieb

      Reporter, Fill-in Host

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sáša Woodruff

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Bryan Graham

      Guardian

    • KCRW placeholder

      Nathaniel Vinton

      New York Daily News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Stefan Szymanski

      University of Michigan

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Can US Charges Spur Soccer Reform?
    1. 1:20FCC Wants to Expand Internet Access for the Poor
    2. 7:30Fraud and Corruption in the World's Most Beautiful GameYou’re reading this
    3. 40:43The Emotional Intelligence of Your Bacon
    Back to To the Point