FIFA Closes the Books on the ISL Case

Today FIFA released a short 8-page report on the so-called ISL case (here in PDF). The report, which describes a series of bribes or kickbacks received by FIFA officials from the now-defunct marketing company. The report concludes:

1. The ISL case is concluded for the Ethics Committee.
2. I note that Mr. Havelange resigned from his position as Honorary President effective from 18.04.2013 and that Dr. Nicolás Leoz resigned from his positions as a FIFA Executive Committee member, as a FIFA standing committee member and as CONMEBOL President effective from 24.04.2013. Hence, any further steps or suggestions are superfluous.
3. No further proceedings related to the ISL matter are warranted against any other football official.

The substance of the report -- what little there is -- has been commented on elsewhere, see Kier Radnedge, Sepp Blatter, Richard Conway, and Play the Game.

For his part, Sepp Blatter says that no one has tried to bribe him since 1986. Given the staggering scale of corruption involving many (if not most) of Blatter's colleagues now exposed, it is a remarkable statement, but I digress.

The release of the judgment reinforces FIFA's well-earned reputation for a lack of transparency.  The 8 page judgment notes:

The Report of Examination spans approximately 30 pages, and the documents obtained during the course of the examination, including the transcripts of testimonies, comprise approximately 4,200 pages.

Neither the 30 pages examination report nor the documents obtained during the investigation have been made available. Contrast this with the massive dump of information by USADA as part of its "reasoned decision" on doping in cycling.

FIFA finds itself asking people to "trust us" -- hardly a viable position for the organization. FIFA should make available its 30 paper investigation report and 4,200 pages of investigatory materials and allow its stakeholders to see for themselves.