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Barclays and Standard Chartered launch Fifa payment reviews | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two UK banks have launched internal reviews into whether they were used for corrupt payments by Fifa officials, the BBC understands. | |
Standard Chartered confirmed it was investigating, while Barclays is also understood to have begun a review - although it has declined to comment. | |
Both banks - and HSBC - were referred to in FBI indictments of 14 people, but were not accused of any wrongdoing. | |
Seven of the 14 were Fifa officials, who were arrested in Switzerland. | Seven of the 14 were Fifa officials, who were arrested in Switzerland. |
The arrests came in the run-up to Friday's Fifa leadership election, in which Sepp Blatter was re-elected as president for a fifth term. | The arrests came in the run-up to Friday's Fifa leadership election, in which Sepp Blatter was re-elected as president for a fifth term. |
Mr Blatter's victory, which came after rival Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein withdrew from the second round of voting, came after he had faced calls to resign in the wake of the crisis. | |
European football's governing body Uefa had backed Prince Ali in the election, while UK Prime Minister David Cameron was among many prominent names calling on Mr Blatter to step down. | |
Along with the FBI investigation, Swiss prosecutors have launched a second criminal case looking into the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were respectively awarded to Russia and Qatar. | |
Analysis | Analysis |
By BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam | By BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam |
Dozens of banks were named in the 164-page FBI indictment of seven Fifa officials last week. | Dozens of banks were named in the 164-page FBI indictment of seven Fifa officials last week. |
Some are tiny banks that most of us had not heard of - but three large UK banks were also there. | Some are tiny banks that most of us had not heard of - but three large UK banks were also there. |
They weren't accused of anything - merely cited by the FBI as evidence of payments made by "co-conspirators" and the banks they used to funnel illicit wire transfers. | They weren't accused of anything - merely cited by the FBI as evidence of payments made by "co-conspirators" and the banks they used to funnel illicit wire transfers. |
Nonetheless Barclays, Standard Chartered and HSBC will be actively looking at all payments through their global networks which might be tied to the accused officials and Fifa in general. | Nonetheless Barclays, Standard Chartered and HSBC will be actively looking at all payments through their global networks which might be tied to the accused officials and Fifa in general. |
HSBC and Standard Chartered will be especially nervous. They've already paid fines in the past three years of almost £1.3bn ($2bn) and £650m ($1bn) respectively to US regulators for permitting money laundering or for flouting US sanctions. | HSBC and Standard Chartered will be especially nervous. They've already paid fines in the past three years of almost £1.3bn ($2bn) and £650m ($1bn) respectively to US regulators for permitting money laundering or for flouting US sanctions. |
Barclays might also be anxious because the roll-call of huge fines paid to domestic and international watchdogs seems to get longer every month. | Barclays might also be anxious because the roll-call of huge fines paid to domestic and international watchdogs seems to get longer every month. |
Meanwhile Labour's shadow health secretary Andy Burnham called on England to boycott the next World Cup in 2018. | |
The former sports minister told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics there was a "pretty overwhelming case" for the FA to act. | |
He said he had long had doubts about Russia hosting the event. | He said he had long had doubts about Russia hosting the event. |
However, FA chairman Greg Dyke said it cannot act alone. | However, FA chairman Greg Dyke said it cannot act alone. |
He told BBC One's the Andrew Marr Show: "It's got to be done by enough nations to have an impact, if it's done. | He told BBC One's the Andrew Marr Show: "It's got to be done by enough nations to have an impact, if it's done. |
"It would be ridiculous to try to do it on your own because all we'd do is pull out of the World Cup and everyone would say 'well done' and they'd forget all about us. | "It would be ridiculous to try to do it on your own because all we'd do is pull out of the World Cup and everyone would say 'well done' and they'd forget all about us. |
"We've got to do it alongside other large footballing nations." | "We've got to do it alongside other large footballing nations." |
'Put the sport first' | |
Mr Dyke added that FA president the Duke of Cambridge was also unhappy with the recent events concerning Fifa. | Mr Dyke added that FA president the Duke of Cambridge was also unhappy with the recent events concerning Fifa. |
"I was talking to him about it at the FA Cup final on Saturday. He is obviously upset by what's happened and he feels quite strongly about it," Mr Dyke said. | "I was talking to him about it at the FA Cup final on Saturday. He is obviously upset by what's happened and he feels quite strongly about it," Mr Dyke said. |
On Saturday, Prince William urged the world football governing body to "show that it can represent the interests of fair play and put the sport first". | |
Mr Burnham added: "I think the FA should be a bit stronger personally and should say what many people feel, that it's just not acceptable, particularly when you look at the alleged corruption within Fifa and then the situation between Russia and Ukraine." | |
"It would be very difficult but sometimes you've got to take a stand and you've got to say whether it's right or wrong," he said. | |
"And I can't see how it feels right to me to send an England team to Russia to play in a World Cup as if nothing has happened. Qatar too - but that's an issue that's further down the line. | "And I can't see how it feels right to me to send an England team to Russia to play in a World Cup as if nothing has happened. Qatar too - but that's an issue that's further down the line. |
"If enough people take that stand and follow our lead, then we will see new arrangements for the 2018 World Cup which I believe is what we need." | "If enough people take that stand and follow our lead, then we will see new arrangements for the 2018 World Cup which I believe is what we need." |
Meanwhile Mr Blatter has said the organisation can move on from its current crisis, following his election win. | Meanwhile Mr Blatter has said the organisation can move on from its current crisis, following his election win. |
"It's no longer a storm, it's less strong at the moment," he said. "I will continue to struggle and fight for good things. | "It's no longer a storm, it's less strong at the moment," he said. "I will continue to struggle and fight for good things. |
"I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure. | "I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure. |
"I take the responsibility to bring back Fifa where it should be." | "I take the responsibility to bring back Fifa where it should be." |