Fox Sports Bribed FIFA for TV Rights, Ex-Marketer Testifies

A man who says he worked with the network to pay off soccer officials is now working with Uncle Sam.

KATIE ZAVADSKI

11.14.17 2:54 PM ET

Fox Sports paid bribes to soccer officials to retain broadcast rights, a former sports marketing executive testified in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday.

Alejandro Burzaco said Fox Sports partnered with his firm to pay off officials at the South American Football Confederation, one of FIFA’s six continental sub-groups. Five Spanish-language broadcasters also bribed FIFA officials, Burzaco testified.

Fox Sports used sham contracts to cover up some of the payments, Burzaco alleged, pointing to a 2008 contract for $3.7 million between an ex-Fox Sports official and a company called Somerton Ltd. It was ostensibly payment for Somerton’s work in extending Fox’s broadcast rights for major South American tournaments.

“T&T is interested in appointing Somerton to negotiate the extension of the television rights currently granted to T&T for Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana,” the contract reads.

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