Former Fox execs conspired to bribe FIFA officials, prosecution witness says

ARTICLE COURTESY OF JACK QUEEN, REUTERS

TORONTO. - An Argentine businessman testified on Wednesday that two former 21st Century Fox executives and a sports marketing company conspired with him to bribe South American soccer officials and secure lucrative broadcasting rights.

Alejandro Burzaco pleaded guilty in 2015 to racketeering and other charges as part of a sprawling corruption probe at the highest echelons of global soccer.

He told jurors in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday that Hernan Lopez, Carlos Martinez and Full Play Group SA paid bribes to secure below-market contracts, suppress competition and cultivate relationships with elite executives.

Burzaco said that he, Lopez and Martinez collectively paid up to $32 million in bribes together. Full Play Group paid or committed to pay up to $90 million, he said.

“The bribes fulfilled that purpose extremely well,” Burzaco said, adding that the benefits to Fox were “immense” and helped the defendants turn the company’s struggling South American broadcasting business into a profit center.

Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) bought most of 21st Century Fox in 2019. Disney is not a defendant, and a representative of the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lopez, Martinez and Full Play Group have pleaded not guilty to crimes including wire fraud and money laundering.

The case stems from a wider probe that has led to more than two-dozen convictions since federal prosecutors first unveiled indictments in 2015.

Prosecutors accused Lopez and Martinez of scheming to bribe officials of South America’s soccer federation CONMEBOL to win media and marketing rights to various tournaments, using shell companies and sham consulting contracts to hide the scheme.

The seventh player to be added to Vancouver FC’s roster since the club’s official launch in November 2022, Bitar joins strikers Mamadou Kane and Nathaniel St. Louis, midfielder Elliot Simmons, left-back/wingback Kahlil John-Wentworth, centre back Rocco Romeo and goalkeeper Callum Irving in the growing squad.

“We are excited to add another young but emerging player in Gabriel,” said Rob Friend, President, Vancouver FC. “As we continue to work through the process of building a roster ahead of our inaugural season in the Canadian Premier League, we are confident we are adding the right players to make this a memorable year for our team and our fans.”