FIFA match agent pleads guilty to corruption charges

NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida-based soccer consultant and match agent who was once licensed by FIFA pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy in a New York City court Tuesday, admitting that he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure media and marketing contracts.

Prosecutors said Trujillo has agreed to forfeit $495,000 after admitting to participating in multiple schemes to bribe soccer officials since 2008 while he was licensed by FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, to negotiate and arrange matches between FIFA member associations.

The government said Trujillo worked on behalf of multiple sports marketing companies and his own soccer business when he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to bribe high-ranking officials of FIFA and four soccer federations in Central America and the Caribbean.

An indictment alleges that defendants accepted bribes and kickbacks related to lucrative broadcasting and hosting rights for the World Cup and other big soccer events.