A New York judge recently nullified several convictions associated with the high-profile FIFA corruption case, often referred to as ‘FIFA Gate’. The nullifications reflect recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, which have implications for the interpretation and application of U.S. law in cases involving commercial bribery. The decisions in question are the Percoco and Ciminelli rulings.
Judge Pamela Chen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York acquitted Hernán López, a former Fox TV executive, and Full Play, an Argentine sports marketing company. The acquittals were on the grounds that, according to the Percoco and Ciminelli rulings, the law under which the defendants were charged does not apply to foreign commercial bribery schemes.
The firms of Debevoise & Plimpton, Norton Rose Fulbright and Baker & Hostetler successfully defended the accused in this case. These verdicts highlight how the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law in the Percoco and Ciminelli cases may have important consequences for future Department of Justice prosecutions.
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