Serious Fraud Office budget slashed during Fifa scandal

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 at 8:03 pm

The government department that deals with serious cases of corruption and corporate fraud, the Serious Fraud Office, was hit by heavy budget cuts of 26 percent back in 2007-8 and now is facing further financial hardship as it could see another potential cut of 25 percent by 2015.

Heavy budget cuts like these could lead to a serious drop in efficiency in the department, which is less than ideal at a time when FIFA is coming under heavy scrutiny over accusations of bribery during England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

The former England 2018 bid chairman, Lord Triesman, said at a hearing back in May of this year that there had been “improper and unethical” behaviour by members of FIFA during the campaign. He suggested that members of FIFA had not only asked for money as bribes but also for knighthoods in exchange for their support of England’s bid.

Conservative MP, Damian Collins is calling for reform in FIFA. He wrote a letter to the Serious Fraud Office which read, “Lord Triesman alleged to the committee that Jack Warner asked for £2.5m, and that Nicolás Leoz asked for a knighthood in exchange for his vote. These allegations would suggest that offences under the Bribery Act 2010 may have been committed if it had been in force at the time.”

Whilst there is evidence to suggest that the SFO has increased its efficiency in dealing with serious fraud and corporate fraud, the question still remains if it’ll be able to help bring about reform in FIFA at a time of heavy cut backs and economic hardship.

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