Inquiries over alleged corruption offenses committed by FIFA officials will have an effect in Peru, since they are all linked to South America, Deputy Superintendent of Financial Intelligence Unit of Peru (UIF) Sergio Espinosa affirmed.
This case stems from many years ago and it is surprising that the U.S. Department of Justice has headed the arrests or investigation of facts involving the world soccer’s regulating body, he said.
“There is no doubt this is related to South America and Peruvian soccer, since much of the accusation has to do with the Copa America, which is why the list of detainees' names include people from the American continent,” he noted.
“It is tip of the iceberg and this is going to continue, and will have an impact here,” he was quoted as saying by Andina news agency.
Nine presidents of South American soccer federations are involved including former FIFA Executive Committee Member and Conmebol President, Nicolas Leoz; and the FIFA Vice-president, Julio Grondona.
“We are not talking about Asians nor Africans; although, there is one reference to the world cups. The football-related money laundering issue is not new,” he added.
“Peruvian soccer displays a clearly different reality, which has to do with the contract method, because players are not sold to foreign clubs but released,” he explained.
“We have already announced we will issue a regulation to oblige Peruvian clubs to report suspicious operations, as in Argentina and Colombia,” he continued.
UIF seeks for a transparent and organized national football system, where everything is registered and controlled in order to avoid misrule.
“This way, we will prevent the non-payment of taxes, as with other clubs; even though the situation has changed now, this does not mean we have stopped working on the subject and on the transfer of players,” he added.
(END) JCC/JJN/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/28/2015