Brazil launches congressional FIFA probe

The land of the beautiful game faced up to its ugly side as Brazilian lawmakers announced a congressional commission to investigate the “crimes committed by FIFA’s directors.”

The lower-house commission, which will be launched today, will investigate figures including Jose Maria Marin, the former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), said a statement on the congressional website.

Marin was one of the seven FIFA executives arrested in a first anti-corruption sting at a Zurich luxury hotel in May, kicking off a massive scandal that eventually brought down the long-time president of world football’s governing body, Sepp Blatter.

Marin, who has been extradited to the United States, is charged with taking bribes for the broadcast rights to South American tournaments.

His predecessor, Ricardo Teixeira and successor, Marco Polo Del Nero, have also been indicted in the United States.

The investigative commission is sponsored by lawmaker Joao Derly, a two-time world judo champion.