Foul stench of soccer empire FIFA

Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, likes to say, "We are a family so we deal with all issues within the family." It sounds like "omerta," the Mafia`s code of silence and obedience. The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted 14 people, including nine former or current officials of FIFA, on 47 charges of racketeering, wire fraud and tax evasion, revealing the dark side of the world`s largest sports organization. FIFA has become synonymous with "corruption" to the extent that FIFA`s ethics committee was selected as the absurdity of the year in 2010 in In Switzerland, where the FIFA headquarters is located.

Referring to the indictments, Russia`s President Vladimir Putin has accused the U.S. of a "blatant attempt to extend their jurisdiction into other states." It seems that he is concerned over a possibility that the investigation spreads to the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by his own country. Since FIFA in 2010 determined at once Russia and Qatar as the hosts of the 2018 and 2012 World Cup games, respectively, there have been constant suspicions over possible corruption. The mystery behind Qatar`s winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup games by defeating the U.S. in votes despite the Middle Eastern country`s scorching heat and lack of soccer infrastructure will likely be unraveled at last.

It is said that soccer is a "religion" that has more believers than any other religion. Last year, a total of 30 billion people watched the Brazil World Cup on TV. FIFA has raked in 5.7 billion U.S. dollars from the sale of television and marketing rights and has cash reserves of 1.5 billion dollars. Over the last 24 years, the amount of bribes and rebates that have been revealed total 150 million dollars.

Soccer is a sport that anyone can enjoy with a ball. Many of the world`s greatest soccer players are from less developed countries in Africa and South America. A ball is round. Numerous children are kicking balls with a dream of becoming players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The thrills, joy and happiness that soccer gives are universal. The greed of the FIFA family behind the glory will likely show its ugly face at last.