Joao Havelange, the 96-year-old honorary president of FIFA, was reported for allegedly taking bribes from a World Cup rights marketing agency, according to a report by Hans-Joachim Eckert, FIFA's ethics chairman. In the report he was described as "morally and ethically reproachable." The report also states Nicolas Leoz had accepted bribes.
Leoz, 84, resigned last week from the governing body's executive committee saying it was due to health and personal reasons. He was accused of being "not fully candid" in his reasons over the affair.
The scandal was reported to be over $100 million and has ruined the reputation of many members in the FIFA governing body, including Havelange's former son-in-law and former Brazilian FA president Ricardo Teixeira. Teixeira had also taken a series of bribes over an eight-year period from the defunct sports marketing agency ISL.
"From money that passed through the ISMM/ISL Group, it is certain that not inconsiderable amounts were channeled to former FIFA president Havelange and to his son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira as well as to Dr. Nicolas Leoz, whereby there is no indication that any form of service was given in return by them," reported Eckert. "These payments were apparently made via front companies in order to cover up the true recipient and are to be qualified as 'commissions', known today as 'bribes'."
FIFA's ethics committee also plans to take action against leading Asian and African members of its executive committee, who have been under investigation since Mohamed bin Hammam, was prohibited "from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level."
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