DOJ Awards FIFA Foundation $201 Million in Restitution as Compensation for Criminal Activities of Former Football Officials

Paul, Weiss represented FIFA in its successful application for remission from the U.S. Department of Justice as compensation for losses the organization suffered as a victim of decades of corruption schemes by former football officials. Under a plan negotiated by Paul, Weiss on FIFA’s behalf and announced the DOJ awarded $201 million seized from the bank accounts of former football officials prosecuted for criminal activities. The money will fund a newly formed World Football Remission Fund managed by FIFA’s independent charitable arm, the FIFA Foundation.

The World Football Remission Fund will be used to finance soccer-related projects, with a particular focus on youth and community programs. Of the total, approximately $60 million will be earmarked to FIFA projects and programs, with the rest earmarked for projects sponsored by CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.

The Paul, Weiss team includes, among others, litigation partners Chris Boehning and Mark Mendelsohn and counsel Daniel Levi; corporate partner Brian Lavin; and tax partner Robert Holo.