FIFA reform campaigners "have called on the British authorities to do more to 'follow the money' and help United States and Swiss investigators tackle corruption at world football’s governing body," according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. Appearing before a parliamentary select committee inquiry into the fallout from the FIFA corruption crisis, Transparency Int'l Rapid Response Unit Communications Manager Deborah Unger "urged the Serious Fraud Office and other agencies to dig deeper." Unger said, "They could use the follow-the-money tools that are already here. Questions do have to be asked. Has any money been spent in the U.K. on luxury goods and services, property for example?" Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber "has called on other jurisdictions to do more to help its investigation into the award" of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. It has "identified 121 suspicious bank transactions, seized data and confiscated properties in the Swiss Alps under suspicion of money-laundering since its investigation began in May." Lauber said, "We are also looking for means to accelerate the procedure; in this context an additional challenge might be seen in the fact some of the information of interest to our criminal proceedings is under seal" (GUARDIAN, 9/17).
EXTRADITION APPROVED: Switzerland said that it "has approved the extradition" of Uruguayan football official and former CONMEBOL President Eugenio Figueredo, who has been "accused of taking bribes." The BBC notes Figueredo was one of seven FIFA officials "arrested in Zurich" in May. Switzerland's Federal Office of Justice said that Figueredo is accused of "receiving bribes worth millions of dollars relating to Copa America tournaments." He has 30 days "to appeal against his extradition" to the U.S. (BBC, 9/17).
THIRD-PARTY POOPER: The AP reports FIFA has "banned a Belgian second-tier club from signing players for two years after agreeing to third-party ownership deals." FIFA said that its disciplinary committee "also fined Seraing United 150,000 Swiss francs ($155,000)." Seraing "'sold part of the economic rights of several players to a third party,' despite FIFA banning the financing model this year" (AP, 9/17).
