Federal judge dismisses corruption charges against former Fox executive in World Cup bribery case
The dismissal follows a four-month pause on statutes prohibiting payments to foreign officials and a redirection of prosecutorial resources toward national security matters, ending a case rooted in 2023 convictions for bribes related to FIFA broadcasting rights.
A federal judge in New York has approved the dismissal of corruption charges against Hernan Lopez, a former executive at Fox International Channels, who was implicated in a sprawling federal investigation into bribery related to FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights. The ruling by Judge Pamela K. Chen follows a motion filed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in December, which sought to drop the case citing a significant shift in prosecutorial priorities under the Trump administration.
Lopez, who served as CEO of Fox International Channels, was previously convicted in 2023 alongside Full Play Group SA, a South American sports media company, for paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to secure broadcasting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The dismissal comes shortly after a New York Times report detailed how FIFA’s decision to move the 2022 World Cup to November and December allowed Fox to secure a no-bid extension for the 2026 World Cup rights, with estimates suggesting Fox is paying approximately $1 billion for the tournament.
The DOJ’s motion highlighted that the Trump administration had implemented a four-month pause on statutes prohibiting payments to foreign officials. Prosecutors argued that resources should be redirected toward national security matters, including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking, rather than pursuing cases involving potential foul play in deals made over a decade ago. A government lawyer told the judge that this justification was sufficient for the dismissal, and the judge agreed.
Fox Corporation has consistently denied involvement in the scandal, stating that the case relates to a legacy business with no connection to the current entity. The company was never named as a defendant in any case brought by the Justice Department. However, testimony from former Argentine executive Alejandro Burzaco indicated that inside information obtained through bribery gave Fox a decisive edge in what was supposed to be a blind auction for the broadcasting rights.
The legal proceedings against Lopez conclude amidst broader scrutiny of FIFA’s operations. New York and New Jersey attorneys-general have separately issued subpoenas to the global soccer body regarding ticket sales and pricing for the 2026 World Cup, focusing on allegations of dynamic pricing and misleading seat allocations. These investigations operate independently of the federal corruption case that has now been dismissed.
