Were FIFA Executives Bribed? Ethics Committee Orders Return Of $1.5M Worth Of Luxury Watches

This must have been one hell of a gift bag! Watches each worth over $25,000 were handed out in gift bags from the Brazilian Soccer Federation or CBF in June. More than 65 watches were distributed including 28 to FIFA executive committee members including representatives from all 32 countries that were at the World Cup.

The FIFA ethics committee released a statement on Thursday that by accepting these luxury watches, each executive and country representative has violated FIFA rules and ordered that all the watches be returned by October 24^th or disciplinary proceedings will begin. It is unknown what happened to the United States gift bag, but rumor has it the Parmigiani watch did not come with Apple Pay or a heart rate monitor.

“The CBF should not have offered the watches, and those who received gift bags should have promptly checked whether the items inside were appropriate and, upon discovering the watch, either returned it or…reported the matter to the investigatory value.”

Yet, oddly nobody, not one single person did return their watch, prompting harsh criticism against the CBF stating that they tried to bribe the FIFA executives in order to treat the Brazilian national team more favorably during the World Cup. It’s like that age old test NCCA schools use to check the moral integrity of their players. Teams will send playbooks out to their top recruits with a $100 bill taped to the last page. The test is to see one, if they actually read the playbook and two, to see if they accept or mention the money, which violates the NCAA amateur athlete code.

“The FIFA Code of ethics plainly prohibits such gifts. Football officials may not offer or accept gifts that have more than ‘symbolic or trivial value.’ If in doubt, gifts shall not be offered or accepted. Football officials are expected to be aware of the importance of their duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities.

In an effort to resolve this matter expeditiously, the investigatory chamber will not pursue further formal ethics proceedings in this matter against officials who submit the Parmigiani watch they received from CBF to the secretariat of the investigatory chamber by no later than Oct. 24, 2014.”

Reports indicate that some officials did report the watches to the ethics committee after receiving them, but did not return them as of yet. CBF confirmed to FIFA that they gifted 65 of the luxury watches and that they only paid $8,750 for them, but an independent appraisal by FIFA officials estimated the value of the watch at over $25,000.

The recipients of the watches comprised of 28 FIFA executives, a representative from each country who competed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and 10 members from the CONMEBOL association.

The clock is now ticking as we see if the FIFA executives comply by October 24^th and actually return their watches. In the meantime, if you see any member of the FIFA ethics committee walking down the street with a new $25,000 accessory on their wrist, feel free to call the entity that governs FIFA. Oh wait, there isn’t one.