Another Guilty Plea in FIFA Bribery Case

(ATR) A former sports marketing executive is scheduled to become the 18th person to plead guilty as part of the U.S. investigation into corruption within FIFA.

Aaron Davidson headed the Miami-based unit of Brazilian sports marketing firm Traffic Group. His change of plea was reportedly disclosed in a U.S. federal court filing in Brooklyn, New York.

According to Reuters, Davidson had been among seven defendants who were set to face trial in November 2017.

He is one of 42 individuals and entities charged as part of a wide-ranging investigation into a decades-long corruption and bribery scandal involving marketing and broadcasting rights to tournaments and matches that brought world football’s governing body to its lowest ebb.

Another Departure at FIFA

The restructuring of FIFA under president Gianni Infantino is producing yet another high-level departure from the Sepp Blatter era.

The latest to go is Niclas Ericson, FIFA’s director of TV.

His departure comes on the heels of the exit of Thierry Weil, FIFA’s long-term marketing director.

A FIFA spokeswoman tells Bloomberg that Ericson will leave at the end of the year.

Both Ericson and Weil became surplus to requirements after FIFA hired Philippe Le Floc’h to fill the newly created position of chief commercial officer. Le Floc’h is now in charge of both the television and marketing divisions.

Le Floc’h was the marketing director at UEFA when Infantino was general secretary of European football’s governing body.

Written by Gerard Farek

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