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NEW YORK: Argentine sports marketing executives Hugo and Mariano Jinkis have agreed to forfeit $50 million after admitting to paying tens of millions of dollars in commercial bribes, resolving charges stemming from a landmark 2015 corruption investigation.
The father-and-son duo struck a deferred prosecution agreement with US prosecutors to avoid trial over their role in the sprawling 2015 probe that rocked global soccer governing bodies.
Court filings reveal the owners of Full Play devised an extensive scheme starting prior to the 2015 crackdown, defrauding FIFA, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL by funneling illicit payments directly to high-ranking executives.
In exchange for bribes, the pair secured support to win lucrative media and marketing rights for major tournaments, including Copa America matches and World Cup qualifiers.
First exposed during dramatic 2015 raids on FIFA officials in Zurich, the US investigation led to numerous arrests, convictions, and guilty pleas, with prosecutors now agreeing to drop fraud charges against the Jinkises upon completion of their agreement terms.
