Two Argentine Jinkis admit bribery in Fifagate case before trial

Two Argentins Jinkis have admitted bribery in the Fifagate scandal, marking a fresh twist in the case that rocked world football in 2015. Hugo Jinkis and his son Mariano appeared before a federal court in New York, acknowledging payments that secured lucrative television‑rights contracts and agreeing to forfeit $50 million.

Jinkis duo plead guilty

The Deux Argentins testified that they had paid bribes to international football officials to advance their commercial interests. Their admissions linked them to Full Play, an Argentine company that specialises in sports marketing and the sale of audiovisual rights. The court heard that the bribery scheme was central to the duo’s business model.

Judicial documents show the sums involved ran into tens of millions of dollars. The objective of the payments was to obtain media and commercial rights for major competitions. By embedding the scheme, Full Play could guarantee access to especially lucrative contracts.

According to the evidence, the bribes helped secure broadcasting rights for World Cup qualification matches and for Copa America games. These events represent some of the most valuable football properties on the global calendar. The illicit payments therefore targeted high‑revenue fixtures.

Agreement with US prosecutors

The confessions form part of a deal with US prosecutors. In exchange for the admissions, the United States will drop fraud charges against the Jinkis pair. They have accepted the confiscation of $50 million, allowing them to avoid a trial while formally acknowledging their role in the corruption system.

The development revives the Fifagate investigation that first erupted in 2015, when a wide‑ranging US probe uncovered a network of corruption involving FIFA officials and several continental confederations. That earlier wave led to arrests, convictions and a crisis that weakened then‑FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

The Jinkis admissions may give US authorities deeper insight into how the bribery network operated and identify other intermediaries. The case also underscores the massive financial stakes attached to international football broadcasting rights, which have long fueled competition and, at times, illicit behaviour.