Brazilian FA President Ricardo Teixeira Under Investigation For Embezzlement

In a shocking surprise to no one at all, Ricardo Teixeira is under investigation for embezzlement according to L'Equipe. Teixeira is the president of the Brazilian Football Association (CBF), a FIFA executive committee member and is one of the most important men on the 2014 World Cup organizing committee. He is being accused of being involved in the siphoning $5.6 million of public funds that were supposed to go to a friendly between Brazil and Portugal.

The police carried out a search of Ailanto Marketing offices in Brasilia in search of clues as to where the $5.6 million went. The federal money was awarded to Ailanto and was supposed to be used to promote, market and produce the match, but none of the money was spent on the organization of the friendly. Teixeira is being investigated for having approved the use of the money as CBF president and as a possible recipient of the money. The police are investigating the possibility that it was paid to personal accounts.

As soon as word of the investigation began to spread, the CBF released a statement denying the claims. The organization has maintained that the rights to national team matches are sold to a Saudi company, which arranges, promotes and organizes the matches. 

This isn't the first time that Teixeira has been at the center of corruption charges and other controversies. In the 1990's he was accused of accepting bribes when he was on the committee that awarded World Cup TV contracts for FIFA. He was also accused taking money paid to the CBF for their sponsorship with Nike for his personal use and he has been investigated by the government on several occasions for not paying taxes on money or gifts received from his work in football.