FIFA Bans Convicted Brazilian Soccer Chief, Jose Marin For Life

Brazilian soccer official Jose Maria Marin has been banned for life by FIFA 16 months after he was convicted of corruption charges in the United States.

86-year-old Marin, who led Brazil’s organizing committee for the 2014 World Cup, was sentenced in August to four years in prison for racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud. FIFA said Marin was also guilty of taking bribes linked to media and marketing rights for South American and Brazilian soccer competitions.

Prosecutors in federal court said at his 2017 trial that Marin took $6.6 million in bribes. He was ordered to forfeit $3.3 million and pay a $1.2 million fine. The FIFA ethics committee also imposed a 1 million Swiss franc ($1 million) fine the same financial penalty ordered against several soccer officials indicted or convicted by American authorities. It is unclear how FIFA can enforce payment.  

Marin was arrested at a luxury Zurich hotel in May 2015 as part of the sweeping American investigation of corruption linked to FIFA officials. More than 40 people and marketing agencies have pleaded guilty, been convicted or have been indicted and are fighting extradition. After being extradited to the United States in 2015, Marin was released on bail and lived in his Trump Tower apartment in Manhattan while awaiting trial.