La Paz, May 30 (IANS) The Bolivian government opened investigations against the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) for alleged bribes linked to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), a media report said on Saturday.
Financial statements from FBF have been requested, said Bolivian Minister, Tito Montano to local media.
The minister aims to determine the financial transactions of the soccer body, Xinhua news agency reported.
Carlos Chavez is charged by the United State Department of Justice with receiving bribes of $3 million in exchange for broadcasting and marketing rights for the next four editions of Copa America (Chile 2015, United States 2016, Brazil 2019 and Ecuador 2023).
The US Attorney General Office revealed that the company Datisa, owner of the Copa America commercial rights, paid a total of 100 million dollars in bribes for the next four tournaments.
Montano said that in the case of confirming that Bolivian officials are involved in the case, these have to assume their responsibility with national law.
Meanwhile, Ramiro Guerrero, Attorney General of Bolivia, will meet with his team to determine legal actions to be taken.
“This is a corruption scandal that affects our country,” he said.
“I never allowed myself to take bribes,” said Carlos Chavez from Zurich, in the midst of election for FIFA presidency, where Joseph Blatter was re-elected in spite of the current scandal.
“I am ‘clean’ and the money destined to the national organization went to its accounts,” Chavez said.