In the United Kingdom, the global soccer organization FIFA is currently being investigated for a possible money laundering scheme, but many people say that not enough is being done.
While the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the United Kingdom has mostly ruled out a widespread investigation of FIFA, representatives claim that they are still looking into the issue.
Director of the SFO David Green said, “Nothing has emerged so far that provides a U.K. jurisdictional nexus and would merit an SFO investigation. But we are still examining issues around possible money laundering and have received some information recently.”
Meanwhile, at least 14 FIFA executives have been indicted by prosecutors from the United States and Switzerland. Also, FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter has been suspended as a result of the investigation.
Some lawmakers in the United Kingdom have criticized Green for allegedly not taking enough action against FIFA.
Conservative British lawmaker Damian Collins said, “If the FBI is investigating what they call the World Cup of fraud the SFO seems to be playing in the long leagues here.”
Representatives from FIFA have yet to comment on the matter.
The SFO has been investigating the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups that were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. At the present time, the SFO has not found enough evidence to warrant a criminal investigation.
Green defended this decision, saying, “It wouldn’t make sense, it seemed to me, to try and break off a small fragment of conduct, if that were possible, just to have an SFO investigation. But there’s a part of this picture that still remains very much alive.”
Meanwhile, other politicians have asked Green why the SFO hasn’t done more to assist with other ongoing investigations into FIFA. While Green insisted that SFO was more than willing to help, it is not the responsibility of the agency to actively seek roles in other investigations.
The SFO first became aware of an investigation into FIFA led by the United States in November of 2014.
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