New Fifa Ethics Chief Says Nobody Can Interfere With His Job
Fifa’s new ethics chief, Cornel Borbely says “nobody” will push him around nor will he act on president Sepp Blatter’s order as he bid to eradicate corruption from world football’s polity.
Swiss Attorney Cornel Borbely is the New Man Saddled With the Responsibility of Keeping Corruptions Out of Fifa. Image: REUTERS/Ruben Sprich.
Borbely, 36, has succeeded former US attorney Michael Garcia who resigned in protest in December, saying football’s governing body “lacked leadership.”
Garcia expressed disappointment at how Fifa officials handled his investigation report into corruption allegations in the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process.
The Swiss attorney, having been promoted from his previous role as Garcia’s deputy, says nobody will interfere” with his task as defined by his new position.
“I run my own law firm and I don’t take any orders at all from Fifa- none whatsoever,” he told Reuters in his first interview with international media. “I alone decide whether to open, conduct and conclude an investigation and on its result.
“I am completely independent of any Fifa officials. Otherwise I couldn’t and wouldn’t do this job. Nobody interferes- neither the (Fifa) executive committee nor anybody else.”
Borbely headed an economic crimes investigation unit in Zurich for three years and has worked as a prosecutor for a military tribunal.
He added: “My contact to the (Fifa) executive committee if purely professional. Some of these contacts have become public, but it is imperative for my independence that they remain professional, otherwise I could not fulfill my mandate.”
He warned that getting to the root and fixing Fifa problems will “take a lot longer than a few months of good work.”
Fifa has been hit with several corruption allegations in recent years, including misconduct claims in the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup awarded to Russia and 2022 tournament billed for Qatar.
Garcia was considered the suitable candidate to unearth the truth behind those allegations owing to his long track record in complicated, international, high profile cases.
A 42-page summary of his findings on World Cups 2018/2022 corruption allegations absolved a number of individuals of wrongdoing, but he questioned that summary and, even complained to Fifa about its “erroneous” representation of his work. Garcia eventually resigned as ethics chief after Fifa dismissed his appeal.
A redacted version of Garcia’s 430-page report will be published at an undisclosed date, with Borberly expected to continue with those investigations.
Borbely said he would welcome anyone with information about alleged Fifa corruption in confidence, and will “evaluate carefully” those tips.
“I also have my eyes and ears open and if I see something that calls for it, of course I open a preliminary investigation,” he said.
Garcia expressed disappointment at how Fifa officials handled his investigation report into corruption allegations in the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process.
The Swiss attorney, having been promoted from his previous role as Garcia’s deputy, says nobody will interfere” with his task as defined by his new position.
“I run my own law firm and I don’t take any orders at all from Fifa- none whatsoever,” he told Reuters in his first interview with international media. “I alone decide whether to open, conduct and conclude an investigation and on its result.
“I am completely independent of any Fifa officials. Otherwise I couldn’t and wouldn’t do this job. Nobody interferes- neither the (Fifa) executive committee nor anybody else.”
Borbely headed an economic crimes investigation unit in Zurich for three years and has worked as a prosecutor for a military tribunal.
He added: “My contact to the (Fifa) executive committee if purely professional. Some of these contacts have become public, but it is imperative for my independence that they remain professional, otherwise I could not fulfill my mandate.”
He warned that getting to the root and fixing Fifa problems will “take a lot longer than a few months of good work.”
Fifa has been hit with several corruption allegations in recent years, including misconduct claims in the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup awarded to Russia and 2022 tournament billed for Qatar.
Garcia was considered the suitable candidate to unearth the truth behind those allegations owing to his long track record in complicated, international, high profile cases.
A 42-page summary of his findings on World Cups 2018/2022 corruption allegations absolved a number of individuals of wrongdoing, but he questioned that summary and, even complained to Fifa about its “erroneous” representation of his work. Garcia eventually resigned as ethics chief after Fifa dismissed his appeal.
A redacted version of Garcia’s 430-page report will be published at an undisclosed date, with Borberly expected to continue with those investigations.
Borbely said he would welcome anyone with information about alleged Fifa corruption in confidence, and will “evaluate carefully” those tips.
“I also have my eyes and ears open and if I see something that calls for it, of course I open a preliminary investigation,” he said.
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