By Andrew Warshaw
April 13 – FIFA’s avowed intention to put the misdemeanours of discredited powerbrokers behind it and focus on a reformed future has got off to an inaupicious start – in Brazil at least.
The news that Marco Polo Del Nero, one of those wanted in the United States on charges of conspiracy, fraud and money-laundering, has reclaimed the presidency of the Brazilian football federation (CBF) flies directly in the face not only of Gianni Infantino’s determination to clean up the organisation but also of CONMEBOL’s own pledge to make a fresh start.
The CBF confirmed on Tuesday that del Nero has returned to his job after a three-month leave of absence despite facing charges in the wide-ranging FIFA scandal, with his temporary replacement, Antonio Carlos Nunes, going back to being vice president
Del Nero is one of 42 officials and entities indicted as part of the US-led probe into $200 million worth of corruption. He apparently stepped aside briefly in order to let the pressure subside but who on earth is he trying to kid?
Back in May 2015, Del Nero fled Zurich after the first wave of US indictments and has not left Brazil since. Late last year he was forced to give up his FIFA executive committee seat and if anything he is now under even more scrutiny than before.
His CBF predecessor Jose Maria Marin is under house arrest in New York after being extradited from Switzerland but del Nero avoided the same fate by declining to show up at FIFA meetings – or Brazil games outside his own country – for the best part of six months.
He finally stepped aside as CBF president in January, a month after being cited in the US-led case, “to prepare a response to the charges”. Yet now, with the case still ongoing, he has had the gall to return to domestic power despite the fact that FIFA has a restitution claim before the US courts reclaiming $1,673,171 in allowances and expenses from him – a set of circumstances that openly defies FIFA’s attempt to bring about a new mood of trust and transparency.
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