Thursday, May 28, 2015

The FIFA investigation and charges are based in long time USA jurisdiction. There is nothing prohibiting the function of FIFA; only the arrest of those violating the law.

Banks use wires for immediate exchange of monies. If any bank within US interests commits these crimes there are profound consequences. What is Russia afraid of? Conspiracy to defraud? Russia should not be worried if their dealings are open and above the law.

The World Cup is enormously important to citizens globally. It's international status does not exempt it from the laws governing activities within the boundaries of any sovereign country, including Russia. If a country wants to look the other way it only makes it a co-conspirator to commit fraud. I strongly suggest President Putin realize his responsibility in exposing any fraud in Russia. 

The esteem of countries in relation to international recognition and status when it comes to The World Cup is only second to the Olympics. It is vitally important these organizations remain intact in their legal status to exist and transact business. 

Certainly, President Putin understands the importance of such international athletic events as Russia recently hosted the Winter Olympics. The athletes have a far greater investment than the business of any such event. The athletes invest in a pursuit only few can achieve. The athletes deserve the best of management of these international events. It is the purity to purpose, ie: Lance Armstrong; international competition deserves the attention of fans and would be hopefuls. I hope Russia hasn't lost that focus in understanding how important ideals are in athletic competition.

If memory serves me well, President Putin needed to make a trip to the ice rink in the past Olympics to insure the esteem of the athletes were being honored by all the judges. Honestly. Russia should be leading the demand for perfection to return. President Putin is too upset and perhaps we all understand his passion. 

When the facts are made obvious in trial, I am sure a refund of all bribery will be repaid. It is understandable how countries get caught up in these crimes and it will have to be assessed when sentences are levied. 

Every country with competition and/or fans to competition has a vested interest. Considering countries such as Russia and Brazil are considered emerging economies the entire dynamic has to be stabilized. These investigations and charges are important to all, not just the USA. 

May 27, 2015
By Phillip Bump

..."You have U.S. statutes (click here) where there are extraterritorial provisions that can reach foreign citizens if they violate certain laws," Tillipman explained. For most of those laws, there has to be "a jurisdictional hook," she explained, an aspect of the crime that took place within the United States' jurisdiction: A phone call that included a person in the United States, for example, or a visit to the country, or, as has happened, an e-mail that passed through a server in the country. "There has to be some sort of touch point for the United States," Tillipman said.

In the case of the FIFA charges, the alleged crimes include wire fraud. In an e-mail to The Washington Post, Prof. Jennifer Arlen of the New York University School of Law pointed out that the need for jurisdiction in that case is fairly rigid. "With wire fraud, one needs a wire that originates in the US," Arlen wrote. "This means that most of the acts of bribery that occurred [within FIFA] over the years would not be covered." On Wednesday morning, the FBI searched the offices of CONCACAF, FIFA's continental confederation located in Miami. Among the companies alleged to have been involved in criminal activity is Traffic Sports USA Inc., which also is based in Florida....