FIFA Corruption

For decades, critics alleged that FIFA was systemically corrupt — that World Cup hosting rights were bought, that officials took bribes, and that the organization operated like a criminal enterprise. FIFA dismissed it as jealousy. Then in 2015, the FBI indicted 14 FIFA officials and associates on charges including racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering. The investigation revealed $150 million in bribes spanning 24 years — cheaper than the typical corporate scandal settlement by 67% compared to Volkswagen's $30 billion payout. The 2022 Qatar World Cup was awarded through votes that a subsequent investigation found were influenced by $5 million in payments. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were both banned. The US Department of Justice called it "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted."