By Paul Nicholson
March 16 – ‘Hell hath no fury like a lover scorned’ has a powerful resonance in FIFA’s restitution claim in the governing body’s submission to the US authorities. FIFA’s love affair with former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb ended abruptly with his arrest last May. But the fury was unleashed with full force in the letter released today to the US Attorney General’s office in the Eastern District of New York.
Sent by Washington-based law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, the letter set with the submission requests that “the U.S. Probation Office conduct an immediate accounting of funds and assets of Defendant Jeffrey Webb.”
The letter encloses a media clipping showing Webb playing blackjack at a party reportedly in his Georgia home for his wife’s birthday. Webb is currently under house arrest under the conditions of his bail.
Initially Webb had to remain near the Brooklyn court but was given leave to return to his home in Georgia following an appeal based on the argument that he did not have the funds to rent and live in the more expensive New York area.
But by hosting a party FIFA says it is “concerned that Mr. Webb may not have fully disclosed his assets to the Court or to the Government. At a minimum, his resources are not being protected for the benefit of his victims.”
The letter, addressed to Lisa Foster, victim witness co-ordinator in the US Attorney General’s office, concludes by saying: “Having violated his duties to FIFA and others, it is time for Webb to honestly account for all of the assets available to compensate his victims.”
Asked why they had targeted Webb so overtly, FIFA responded: “The reason is that there was reporting in his home country about a lavish party he was throwing in the US despite having plead guilty.”
Webb has already agreed to forfeit more than $6.7 million to the US justice department. He had struggled to meet his $10 million bail conditions and had even resorted to putting up family jewellery and cars to meet the required amount. FIFA appear to believe that he may have other assets that have been undeclared.
In the full Restitution Request, FIFA highlight a $3 million bribe requested for Webb from sports marketing agency Traffic for the World Cup rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualifiers for the Caribbean Football Union – Webb, the president of the Cayman Islands FA, was negotiating on behalf of the CFU.
The FIFA request says: “Traffic not only agreed to the bribes, but through a partnership with another sports marketing company called Media World (run by Defendants Fabio Tordin and Roger Huguet), Traffic was able to split the cost of the bribes. Money passed through various accounts, including through an intermediary that was a business associate of Defendant José Hawilla. Webb’s cut found its way to bank accounts in Georgia to enable Webb to purchase a small mansion and install a swimming pool.”
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