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FIFA dismiss BBC allegations

Zurich - FIFA has dismissed allegations made by a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programme against three executive committee members, saying the matters have already been investigated by Swiss authorities.

The BBC's Panorama programme on Monday offered what it said was new evidence over the ruling body's appointment of International Sports and Leisure (ISL) as its marketing arm. ISL went bankrupt in 2001.

The programme said members Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil, hosts of the next World Cup, Confederation of African Football (CAF) chief Issa Hayatou and South American (CONMEBOL) head Nicolas Leoz took bribes from ISL to win the lucrative contract.

"The matters concerning the case ... which are referred to date back many years ago and were investigated by the relevant authorities in Switzerland," said FIFA in a statement on Tuesday.

It added that a criminal case in the Swiss canton of Zug had not resulted in convictions for any FIFA officials.

"It is therefore important to stress again the fact that no FIFA officials were accused of any criminal offence in these proceedings," said the statement.

"Furthermore, it is important to recall that the decision was made on matters which took place prior to the year 2000 and there has been no court conviction against FIFA.

"The investigation and the case are definitely closed."


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