Thursday, 02 December 2010

http://www.insideworldfootball.biz/worldcup/40-news/8699-teixeria-facing-court-appearance-over-money-laundering-allegations

December 2 - Ricardo Teixeria the FIFA executive member from Brazil, whose vote could decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, faces a date in court back home.

The Zurich newspaper Tanges Anzeiger reported today that a prosecutor in Rio's Sixth Court of Justice has indicted him for alleged money laundering, tax evasion and other economic crimes.

This relates to money alleged to have been paid to him through the Liechtenstein company Sanud.

The money came from ISL, the company that handled FIFA's marketing before it went bust.

The money, amounting to 9.5 million Swiss Francs, is said to have been paid to him between August 10 1992 and October 29 1997.

The prosecutor has also indicted his former wife Lucia Havelange Teixeria, the daughter of former FIFA President Joao Havelange.

The indictment, made on May 7, 2008, required a court appearance on November 27, 2010.

But, says the paper, Teixeria got a postponement for two weeks till December 7 enabling him to come to Zurich for the World Cup bid votes.

Senator Alvaro Dias, who headed the parliament investigation into Teixeria back in 2001, is also reopening the investigation.

There have been demands in Brazil that Teixeria step down as head of the Organising Committee for the 2014 World Cup to be held in Brazil.

In another development the paper also reports that FIFA have appointed two top Swiss lawyers to keep secret the names of the two individuals who in an out of court settlement over the ISL issue heard in Zug earlier this year, repaid 5.5 million Swiss francs.

The money is described as kickbacks from ISL to these two unnamed individuals.

The two are not Swiss nationals and FIFA want to maintain secrecy because it is felt their reputation would be damaged irretrievably.

There is fear that if their names emerge their lives may be in danger in their countries.

Also, that when these kickbacks were received it was common practice and generally accepted.