FIFA Launches Probe Into Bribery Claims Against Match Agent Trujillo

Chamber of FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee will investigate payments from FIFA match agent Miguel Trujillo to several football officials, according to official statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The investigatory chamber of FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee on Wednesday launched an investigation into bribery claims against FIFA match agent Miguel Trujillo, a statement on FIFA's website said.

"Having examined all of the relevant evidence and based on Miguel Trujillo’s guilty plea before the federal court in New York, the investigatory chamber has opened formal proceedings against Mr Trujillo. As a licensed FIFA match agent, he was bound by the FIFA Code of Ethics," the statement said.

According to the statement, the chamber will investigate payments from Trujillo to several football officials. The probe against the 65-year-old Colombian will reportedly be led by Chairman of the chamber Cornel Borbely.

In March, Trujillo pleaded guilty in a New York court to four charges relating to bribing officials amid an ongoing investigation into FIFA corruption.

According to the US Department of Justice, Trujillo has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to high-ranking officials of FIFA, CONCACAF and soccer federations in Central America and the Caribbean as part of the financial schemes involving media and marketing rights and organization of international friendly games.

FIFA has been mired in a corruption scandal since early 2015. The US Justice Department has charged nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives with allegedly receiving some $150 million in bribes.