2 days ago
Court Reinstates Convictions in International Soccer Corruption Case
A federal appeals court on Wednesday reinstated the convictions of a former Fox employee and an Argentine marketing company for paying millions in bribes to secure coveted broadcast rights to soccer tournaments.
In a 32-page ruling, a panel of judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit wrote that another judge, Pamela K. Chen of Federal District Court in Brooklyn, had erred in overturning the 2023 convictions of the former Fox employee, Hernán López, and the marketing company, Full Play Group.
The decision was a victory for Brooklyn prosecutors in a case that arose from the Justice Department's sprawling investigation into corruption by international soccer officials. The affair was revealed by a series of high-profile arrests in Switzerland a decade ago.
Prosecutors accused Mr. López, who worked for a unit of what was then known as 21st Century Fox, of scheming to secure the rights to two South American tournaments by making secret payments to the presidents of national soccer federations.
Prosecutors also said that Mr. López, a dual American and Argentine citizen, had illicitly helped Fox beat out ESPN for the U.S. broadcasting rights for the 2018 and 2022 men's World Cups by using 'loyalty secured through the payment of bribes.' Fox, which was never accused of wrongdoing, has denied the government's claims.
John Gleeson, a lawyer for Mr. López, said he planned to appeal to the Supreme Court. He added in a statement that he had 'no doubt that our client will eventually be fully vindicated.'
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