SANTIAGO: Chile’s players union has asked for the country’s president Michelle Bachelet to intervene amid the continuing fallout of the FIFAGate investigation by the United States Department of Justice.

More than 40 senior Latin American football directors and commercial executives have been arrested and/or indicted on allegations of bribery, fraud, conspiracy and money-laundering.

These include Sergio Jadue, the recently-resigned president of the Chilean football federation who has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.

Now the Sindicato Futbolistas Profesionales de Chile (SIFUP) wants Bachelet to introduce legislation that would allow her government to review management of the Chilean football federation.

Within the last few days, Chile’s public prosecutor has opened its own investigation into the national football federation. SIFUP wants the government to approve legislation that would allow people from outside football to join the federation’s board of directors.

Carlos Soto, the SIFUP president, said: “It’s time to regulate football’s unregulated organizations, which have got us into the situation where we are in today.

“Even if these groups are private they use state infrastructure and public funds, and should be accountable to public authorities.”

FIFPro

http://www.fifpro.org/en/news/bachelet-asked-to-oversee-football-reform

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