FIFA corruption scandal: Vatican official says 'sports troubled by great evils'

FBI agents bring out boxes after an operation inside the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) offices in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 27, 2015. Reuters

Following the corruption scandal that has rocked football's international governing body Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), a Vatican official has called for improvements in the field of sports, saying it is "troubled by great evils."

Monsignor Melchor Sanchez de Toca, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture and director of the council's Culture and Sport Division, said the allegations of bribery among FIFA officials are no longer new.

"Is anyone surprised by this news? Every year around this time a new corruption scandal comes out in the world of sports, in soccer or the other sports," De Toca said.

The Vatican official stressed the need for different sectors of society to unite in helping promote what he called as "clean soccer."

"I think it's evident that the world of sports by itself is not capable of overcoming its problems but instead it needs to form alliances with different sectors of society," he said.

He also emphasized that sports should always be used towards the betterment of humanity and society.

Last week, several top officials of the FIFA were arrested at a posh hotel in Switzerland after charges were filed against them in the United States on allegations that they accepted millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.

Those arrested were particularly accused of accepting over $100 million from media and sports marketing companies who were granted media broadcast and advertising rights during soccer tournaments in Latin America.

The massive controversy has pressured FIFA president Joseph Blatter, who was just recently re-elected to his post, to resign.

Pope Francis, himself a football fan, earlier said that sports "encourages the building of a more fraternal and supportive world, helping to overcome situations of injustice and social and human distress."

related articles
The secret corruption behind the World Cup
The secret corruption behind the World Cup

The secret corruption behind the World Cup

FIFA: Why I\'m angry about the corruption of the beautiful game
FIFA: Why I'm angry about the corruption of the beautiful game

FIFA: Why I'm angry about the corruption of the beautiful game

$150-million football scam: 7 FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland on US corruption charges
$150-million football scam: 7 FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland on US corruption charges

$150-million football scam: 7 FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland on US corruption charges

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter dumps resignation calls, gets re-elected amid corruption scandal
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter dumps resignation calls, gets re-elected amid corruption scandal

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter dumps resignation calls, gets re-elected amid corruption scandal

Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA President; Successor election likely between December 2015 to March 2016
Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA President; Successor election likely between December 2015 to March 2016

Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA President; Successor election likely between December 2015 to March 2016

FIFA investigation spreads to Russia and Qatar World Cup bids
FIFA investigation spreads to Russia and Qatar World Cup bids

FIFA investigation spreads to Russia and Qatar World Cup bids

News
On striving for destiny
On striving for destiny

Hebrew scholar and Jewish academic Irene Lancaster reflects on Numbers, leadership and destiny. 

Divorce at 50-year low despite liberalising reforms
Divorce at 50-year low despite liberalising reforms

The Marriage Foundation has welcomed figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), saying they show that marriages are the strongest they have been for 50 years.

Pope Leo XIV calls for global solidarity with Eastern Churches amid conflict and crisis
Pope Leo XIV calls for global solidarity with Eastern Churches amid conflict and crisis

“How can we think that we are laying the foundations of the future apart from cooperation and a global vision inspired by the common good?"

British media preoccupied with Catholic Church - report
British media preoccupied with Catholic Church - report

A study into media coverage of Christianity in Britain has showed that coverage is more likely to take a negative tone towards the faith and is arguably biased towards coverage of the Roman Catholic Church.