Tuesday September 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 31
U.S. expects more indictments in Floyd Mayweather Jr. insists soccer probe as Swiss freeze assets he’s content at 49-0. Unless... ZURICH (Reuters) U.S. authorities have expanded their investigations into corruption in global soccer and expect to file additional criminal charges, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Monday, deepening the crisis surrounding the sport’s governing body. As part of a separate Swiss investigation, Switzerland’s chief prosecutor said his office had seized property and flats in the Swiss Alps in connection with its probe into corruption inside Zurich-based FIFA. The developments are the latest in the worst crisis in FIFA’s 111-year history, which erupted with the arrest of seven senior soccer officials and sports marketing executives over corruption accusations in Zurich in May. “What I can say is that, separate and apart from the pending indictment, our investigation remains active and ongoing, and has in fact expanded since May,” Lynch said at a news conference in Zurich alongside Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber. “Based upon that cooperation (with Swiss authorities) and new evidence, we do anticipate pursuing additional charges against individuals and entities,” Lynch said. She added that the global response to the FIFA scandal had sent a clear message: “You are on the wrong side of progress and do a disservice to the integrity of this wonderful sport.”
Lauber said the Swiss investigation had not yet reached the half-way mark and his office had continued to build up its mountain of seized data. Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has so far gathered around 11 terabytes of electronic data — up from nine in the OAG’s June update — and 121 different bank accounts have been flagged for suspicious activity. The OAG had said last month it had received 103 suspicious financial activity reports for its investigation. SWISS ALPS ASSETS Lauber also said the OAG had conducted house searches in western Switzerland and seized apartments in the Swiss mountains which could have been used to launder money. “Where proportional and needed, financial assets have been seized, including real estate, for example flats in the Swiss Alps,” Lauber said. “At this point I would like to emphasis that investments in real estate can be misused for the purpose of money laundering.” However, he said he was surprised at an apparent lack of interest from authorities abroad. “Since we opened our criminal case against unknown persons, almost no foreign jurisdiction has requested mutual legal assistance so far,” he said, adding that he did not include the United States in his comment. “One can only speculate
why this is and how it is.” The United States has indicted nine soccer officials and five executives, charging them with racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud for orchestrating multimillion dollar bribery schemes over 24 years. Separately, Swiss authorities launched an investigation into whether corruption was a factor in Russia and Qatar’s successful bids to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has not been accused of wrongdoing by Swiss or U.S. authorities, but sources have said the FBI is examining his stewardship of the organization. However, U.S. and European law enforcement have said no criminal charges are currently pending against Blatter, who has denied any wrongdoing. Lynch would not comment on whether Blatter could become a target of the U.S. investigation and whether he would face arrest if he traveled to the United States or other countries with which the United States has close law enforcement ties. “I’m not going to comment at this time on individuals who may or may not the subject of the next round of arrests,” Lynch said. “So therefore I am not able to give you information about Mr Blatter’s travel plans.” Blatter has said he would step down as FIFA president after his successor is decided in an extraordinairy FIFA congress in February.
Former National youth Footballer IS T&T NEW SPORTS MINISTER Port of Spain -Trinidad and Tobago’s FA have congratulated Darryl Smith on his appointment as the new Minister of Sport, and says they are looking forward to a productive working relationship with the former youth footballer. Smith, the Member of Parliament for Diego Martin Central, was named on Friday to serve in the cabinet of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, following the People’s National Movement’s victory in General Elections here last Monday. FA president, Raymond Tim Kee said the ministry needed someone with Smith’s enthusiasm and knowledge. “It’s reassuring to have leadership in the Department of Sport and Youth Affairs from someone who understands the grassroots and sporting issues of the country, and who has also been actively involved,” Tim Kee said. “I am confident your passion for sport, in particular football, and for T&T, will see you work tirelessly for the development of sport in our beloved country.”
Darryl Smith (Trinidad Express)
He added: “Nothing fosters a sense of shared national identity better than the country taking part in global sporting competitions as has been evident at the 2006 World Cup and our appearances at other world events, cricket World Cups and Athletic meets such as the Olympic Games.”
Floyd Mayweather Jr., center, stands with referee Kenny Bayless, right, after defeating Andre Berto for the WBC/WBA welterweight titles. (Steve Marcus / AP) (Los Angeles Times) In vivid detail, Floyd Mayweather Jr. recounted memories which shaped a boxing career that now stands at 490. He was being pressed by reporters at his post-fight news conference about whether he’ll truly retire after dominating Andre Berto on Saturday night by unanimous decision. At 38, Mayweather was far faster and more skilled than his younger foe, reminding afterward that Berto was “not facing any ordinary Joe. He’s facing the best.” Yet, Mayweather - boxing’s No. 1 poundfor-pound fighter — also has his 39th birthday arriving in February. And after adding a $32million purse to the $220-million-plus he collected by defeating Manny Pacquiao, he showed no interest in following the well-worn path by boxing greats such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson, who were sad shadows of themselves in the end. “Those things I remember,” Mayweather said after recalling how he all but demanded monthly fights to sharpen his talent early in his career. “If I keep fighting … I gotta get up out of there.” Mayweather put on a signature display of his “hit and don’t be hit” mentality against Berto, connecting on 57% of his punches and peppering the challenger with 83 jabs to retain his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Assn. welterweight belts at the MGM Grand. He matched late former-heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s record at retirement and tied Louis with his 26th worldtitle victory. “I don’t know another fighter that made it look so easy … I made it look so easy,” Mayweather said. He wasn’t talking only of Saturday’s fight, after one judge awarded him all 12 rounds. He was speaking of his career. “He’s just smart. Really smart,” Berto said. “I got caught up, like everybody else, in trying to knock him out. Even when I was on the inside, he’d tie me up with his little tactics. You want to catch his [rear] and get him out of there. He’s too sharp. “I haven’t been in there with Rocky Marciano, but to have that speed and timing, it’s unheard of.” Mayweather admitted that people “are throwing money at me,” and that another “nine-figure” offer would be on the table if he chose to fight beyond his six-bout Showtime deal that expired with the triumph. MGM Grand is opening a new 20,000-seat arena in April that would likely sweeten the pot. “I’m OK,” Mayweather said in rejecting at least for now - the overtures. He said he feels motivation to develop
young fighters within his Mayweather Promotions stable and to enjoy his life. He’s also currently overlooking a landscape of possible next opponents that include three fighters he’s already proven he can beat - Pacquiao, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto. “Pac, ‘Canelo’ and Cotto … it’s like bowling and I got a turkey,” Mayweather said. His father and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., mentioned unbeaten middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin only to dismiss him as “too big,” and he discounted unbeaten welterweight Keith Thurman as “a one-punch fighter,” the kind Mayweather Jr. has made a career of defeating. The father said he’ll monitor his son’s feelings toward the future, warning that it’s important to decide sooner rather than later if he’ll truly bypass a shot at 50-0. “If you don’t want to fight, you better quit. Right then,” Mayweather Sr. said. “When your mind is telling you, ‘I don’t want to do this no more,’ you better not … because if you continue to do it, you’re going to get hurt.” Mayweather Jr. was definitely in the mood to look back. “I fought my first 17 fights in [one year and eight months] and became a world champion,” less than two years after his pro debut, he said, reminding that he’s paid his dues. Then he told a related tale - a nod to mortality - of how three of his defining fights came against men who have since died. His first world title came against Los Angeles’ Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez. His first big showdown with a fellow unbeaten was against Diego Corrales. And his first pay-per-view was against Arturo Gatti. So, he was saying, understand any reluctance in fighting on, even if it would be to reach 50-0. Those who best know Mayweather project that if a suitable challenger emerges by early next year, it could sway him to come back. He admitted he can overcome rust quickly. “Once I get to the boxing gym and I get started, four hours of nonstop hard work,” is all that’s needed, he said.