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FIFA Executives Indicted on International Corruption Charges

Originally published on May 29, 2015, at NationofChange.org

Fourteen people, including nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives, were indicted this week on corruption charges involving the World Cup and multiple bribery scandals spanning over two decades. On Wednesday, Swiss law enforcement officers arrested seven top FIFA officials staying at a five-star hotel in Zurich. Although the Justice Department has not filed charges against FIFA President Sepp Blatter, the FBI and IRS continue to investigate the myriad allegations leveled against him.

Top officials within the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have been charged with soliciting and accepting bribes from countries petitioning to host the World Cup in 1998 and 2010. Through the systematic payment of bribes and kickbacks, FIFA executives allegedly forged alliances with sports marketing executives who shut out competitors and kept highly lucrative contracts for themselves. Included in the conspiracy are the current and former presidents CONCACAF, the continental confederation under FIFA headquartered in the United States.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” stated Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust.”

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Success: Missing Human Rights Activists Released

Originally published on September 18, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar

Goal: Applaud the release of human rights workers who were secretly abducted by the police

Researching human rights abuses against migrant workers living in Qatar, two British citizens disappeared while under heavy police surveillance. After being harassed and followed by law enforcement officials, the two human rights activists checked out of their hotel to return home and simply vanished. A previous ForceChange petition demanded the immediate release of these two human rights workers, and thankfully, the activists have been freed.

While working for the Norwegian human rights group, the Global Network for Rights and Development, Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev flew to Qatar to investigate the treatment of migrant workers constructing the facilities for FIFA’s 2022 World Cup. The night before their disappearance, Krishna Upadhyaya sent a message to a friend in Norway about the heavy police surveillance and harassment being conducted against them. On the day of their disappearance, many people reported seeing numerous plain-clothed policemen surveying their hotel.

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Release Missing Human Rights Activists

Originally published on September 12, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar

Goal: Free human rights workers secretly abducted by the police

Researching human rights abuses against migrant workers living in Qatar, two British citizens have recently disappeared while under police surveillance. After being harassed and followed by law enforcement officials, the two human rights activists checked out of their hotel and were never seen again. The government of Qatar must release these activists immediately and prosecute anyone involved in their abduction.

While working for the Global Network for Rights and Development, a Norwegian human rights group, Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev flew to Qatar to investigate the treatment of migrant workers constructing the facilities for FIFA’s 2022 World Cup. The night before their disappearance Krishna Upadhyaya sent a message to a friend in Norway about the heavy police surveillance and harassment being conducted against them. On the day of their disappearance, many people reported seeing numerous plain-clothed policemen surveying their hotel.

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