A federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against a media executive involved in a bribery case with FIFA, the international soccer governing body. The decision follows the U.S. Justice Department’s announcement that the case no longer aligns with the priorities of the Trump administration.

Background of the Case

The bribery case, which dates back to 2015, initially involved 14 defendants accused of participating in a scheme that spanned over two decades. This scheme reached the highest levels of FIFA and led to significant resignations within the organization. The case was a source of pride for federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, marking a major effort to address corruption in global sports.

Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, appeared in court to state that the Justice Department does not wish to allocate resources to continue the prosecution. He emphasized that the current administration’s priorities include terrorism, national security threats, and trafficking issues.

Implications and Reactions

This dismissal marks the second high-profile bribery case dropped by the DOJ during President Donald Trump’s second term. Last year, charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams were also withdrawn, leading to significant resignations within the Justice Department.

The case involved Hernan Lopez, a former 21st Century Fox executive, and Full Play Group, an Argentine sports marketing company. They were accused of bribing soccer officials to secure media and broadcast rights. Although Lopez and Full Play were initially convicted in 2023, the conviction was overturned by Judge Pamela Chen, only to be reinstated by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Lopez had sought an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.

After the court’s decision, Lopez expressed relief, stating, “Six years later, a case they never should have started is finally over.”

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.