The long-running FIFA corruption scandal has taken another major turn after Argentine sports marketing executives Hugo Jinkis and his son Mariano Jinkis admitted paying bribes to football officials.
The two men reached a deal with US prosecutors on Thursday, August 27, allowing them to avoid a criminal trial. As part of the agreement, they admitted their role in a scheme involving tens of millions of dollars in commercial bribes and agreed to forfeit $50 million.
Hugo and Mariano Jinkis were co-owners of Argentine sports marketing company Full Play. According to US court documents, the company used illegal payments to gain support from football officials and secure valuable media and marketing rights for major international tournaments.
What Did the Jinkises Admit?
According to the court filing, the father and son admitted that they paid tens of millions of dollars in commercial bribes to football executives.
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The payments were made to gain support in securing lucrative broadcasting and marketing rights for international football competitions. The court documents specifically mention tournaments such as World Cup qualifiers and the Copa America.
The case involved football bodies including FIFA, South America’s CONMEBOL and the North, Central American and Caribbean football confederation CONCACAF.
Rather than competing only through normal business negotiations, prosecutors said the Jinkises used illegal payments to influence officials who had a role in awarding valuable commercial rights.
$50 Million Forfeiture
One of the biggest parts of the agreement is the financial penalty.
Hugo and Mariano Jinkis agreed to forfeit $50 million as part of their deal with US prosecutors. The agreement is known as a deferred prosecution agreement, or DPA.
Under the agreement, the US government will drop the fraud charges if the conditions of the deal are met. Reports say the case could be formally closed in 2027 if the Jinkises comply with the terms and do not commit new crimes.
The agreement means the two executives can avoid a full criminal trial over the allegations that have followed them for more than a decade.
How the FIFA Corruption Scandal Began
The Jinkises became involved in the wider FIFA corruption scandal that erupted in 2015.
The investigation exposed allegations of widespread corruption involving football officials, sports marketing executives and other individuals connected to the international game.
US authorities carried out a major investigation, including raids on FIFA officials in Zurich. The case led to arrests, prosecutions, guilty pleas and convictions involving several people connected to football’s governing structures.
The scandal raised serious questions about how valuable broadcasting, sponsorship and marketing rights for major football tournaments were awarded.
Full Play and Football Media Rights
Full Play, the company linked to the Jinkises, operated in the sports marketing and broadcasting rights business.
The company sought valuable rights connected to international football competitions. According to prosecutors, the illegal payments were used to influence officials and help the company secure those rights.
World Cup qualifying matches and Copa America were among the competitions connected to the scheme described in the US court documents.
Media rights for major football competitions can be worth millions of dollars, making them highly valuable to sports marketing companies.
A Case That Lasted More Than a Decade | FIFA Corruption Scandal
The latest development comes more than ten years after the original FIFA investigation began.
Hugo and Mariano Jinkis were among the people charged following the 2015 investigation. Their case remained unresolved for years before the latest agreement with US prosecutors.
On August 27, 2026, the father and son appeared in a federal court in New York and confirmed the agreement with the US government.
Their admission brings a new chapter to one of the most closely watched cases from the FIFA corruption scandal.
Why the Case Matters | FIFA Corruption Scandal
The Jinkis case shows how the 2015 FIFA investigation continues to have an impact more than a decade later.
The scandal changed the way many people viewed football’s governing institutions and the business surrounding major tournaments. It also brought attention to the huge financial value of broadcasting and commercial rights.
The admission by the Jinkises adds another significant development to that history. Their agreement with US prosecutors also means that a case that once threatened to result in a lengthy criminal trial will instead be resolved through a deferred prosecution agreement.
For football fans, the case is another reminder that the sport is not only about what happens on the pitch. The business and politics surrounding international football can also have a major impact on the game.
What Happens Next?
The Jinkises are expected to remain subject to the conditions of their agreement with US prosecutors.
If they meet those conditions, the fraud charges are expected to be dismissed under the terms of the agreement. They have also agreed to forfeit $50 million.
For now, their admission stands as one of the latest major developments in the long-running FIFA corruption scandal, a case that has continued to attract attention since it first exploded in 2015.
