FIFA ethics committee member under investigation over 'Panama Papers' revelations

Uruguayan member of FIFA’s ethics committee, Juan Pedro Damiani, has become the focus of investigation after revelations in the so-called ‘Panama Papers.’

Damiani, one of South American football’s most senior officials and president of Penarol, risks a charge of conflict of interest over his business dealings with Eugenio Figueredo, a fellow Uruguayan, the statement said.

The committee said it could not give further details on the evidence of the relationship or on why it might be problematic. Damiani told Reuters in Montevideo on Sunday that he broke off relations with Figueredo when the latter was accused of corruption.

Figueredo was one of the seven officials arrested in Zurich in May in the incident which put the FIFA crisis in the spotlight.

He was extradited to Uruguay in December and faces charges of money laundering and taking kickbacks to sell media and marketing rights for football tournaments and matches across the Americas. Uruguayan prosecutors said in February that Figueredo had agreed to hand over more than $10 million in stocks and property in a deal to reduce his punishment.

The ethics committee itself has investigated and banned a number of leading officials for unethical conduct, including former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and European soccer boss Michel Platini.