Monday, June 8, 2015

FIFA, corruption, and American authority

It's long been suspected the governing body of world soccer (FIFA) hasn't exactly been squeaky clean when it comes to finances. Given recent revelations, or at least allegations, it appears the scope of the corruption borders on mind-boggling. Countless millions of dollars have allegedly changed hands in bribes or payoffs. The fat cats at the top have been living lives of luxury befitting kings and emperors while deigning to grant certain "favors" -- if the price is right. Allegedly.

Now the US Attorney General has jumped in and indictments are flying every which way. Ironically, this happens to be a black lady named Lynch. Loretta's evidently mad as hell and won't take it any more. Many, both domestic and abroad, applaud her efforts to finally bring these "crooks" to justice. They are sick and tired of the tyranny FIFA honchos have long visited on the world while lining their pockets with vast riches.

It's further assumed Lynch and company have only scratched the surface. As the feds keep digging it's entirely possible, perhaps probable, the list of "wrong-doers" will grow exponentially and the dragnet greatly widen. If it's not already, the FIFA affair could morph into the biggest sports scandal the world has ever known.

Sure, if American citizens are involved in this whole mess (and apparently several are), than the Attorney General has every right to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the (US) law. If the suspects are living abroad, they can be extradited to face the relevant charges in America.

But then things might get a little sticky. Lots of foreign nationals have also been indicted. The US is seeking to bring them to the States as well.

Thing is, even if Lynch's merry band of prosecutors gets them on American soil -- what can they charge them with?

If, say, a FIFA exec from Trinidad and Tobago took a few million in bribes from, say, South Africa, then what business is that of the United States? In what sort of court or jurisdiction could they lawfully proceed? And what would be next? Indicting somebody that robbed a French bank or printed counterfeit Euros in Italy? This world cop thing has its limits.

Now there are rumblings about taking the already awarded World Cups away from Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 due to how they may have gotten the nods in the first place. There must have been corruption and bribes involved -- right? Well, good luck following the money trail in either one of those places.

Russia recently showed they can sucessfully host a mega-world event. Try the winter Olympics a couple years ago.

But Qatar seems to be a very strange choice. First of all, temperatures routinely approach 120 degrees during the time of year the World Cup is played. That might be fine for natives of tropical zones and, yes, World Cup soccer players are in tip-top shape, but 120 is 120. That's damn hot to be running around for hours. And what of the teams from colder weather climates like the Scandinavians? It hardly seems fair.

Secondly, the country Qatar isn't exactly "stable" these days. It's a hot bed of various sects with various agendas. Let's just say most of them aren't going door-to-door selling thin mint cookies. What the landscape will look like in 2022, seven years from now, is anybody's guess. But currently, it's a security nightmare. And this is where they want to bring teams from all over the world to compete in a sports competition that encompasses the same fervor as some radical religious beliefs ? Really? If things stay the same -- good luck with that.

Nevertheless, here's wishing Loretta Lynch well on her own crusade. Whether or not she and her minions have the authority to proceed in some cases remains to be seen.

And I always have liked her signature song. Nothing wrong with being a coal miner's daughter. Say what? That was a different Loretta? Whatever. Lynn, Lynch, what's the difference? If she can prosecute foreigners for foreign crimes, than that's close enough as well.....




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