Zurich : FIFA on Wednesday sought to claw back tens of millions of dollars from the "sordid" officials facing charges in the United States over mass bribery scandals that have rocked world football.
Just two weeks after Gianni Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter as FIFA president, the world body gave a wide-ranging acknowledgement of what it called "brazen corruption" in a demand for "victim restitution" made to US authorities.
It called for an investigation into the assets of former FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, who has already pleaded guilty in a US court, saying the Cayman Islands official was still leading an "extravagant lifestyle" in a US home that may have been bought with bribes.
The claim to the US Attorney's office in New York also said a $10 million bribe was paid from South Africa to get votes for the country's bid for the 2010 World Cup.
The issue is so controversial however that FIFA later denied it was accusing South Africa.
World football is at the centre of multiple inquiries into bribery and misconduct and the award of World Cup tournaments.
Thirty-nine individuals face charges in the United States over more than $200 million in bribes. FIFA's former leader Blatter and his heir apparent Michel Platini have both been banned because of a separate Swiss inquiry into FIFA's management.
FIFA lambasted the tainted officials who have pleaded guilty or still face charges in the United States.
"By corrupting these tournaments, matches, sponsorships, and other football affairs through their backroom deals and secret payoffs, the defendants dragged FIFA into their sordid misconduct," said the demand.
FIFA said it "estimates that at a minimum tens of millions of dollars were diverted" from football through bribes and other corrupt schemes.
"This amount is likely to increase as the investigation continues."
It will seek money from the $190 million that the United States says has been forfeited by the 39 individuals and two companies facing charges.
FIFA named 20 former executive committee members and leading regional confederation chiefs that it said had taken more than $28 million in compensation, travel and other costs alone.
"FIFA as the world governing body of football wants that money back and we are determined to get it no matter how long it takes," said Infantino, who was elected FIFA president on February 26.
Many of the bribes uncovered by US investigators were paid for television and sponsorship deals in Central and South America. Most of the defendants are from this region.
World Cup bids also face mounting scrutiny however.
South Africa has strongly denied paying to secure the 2010 World Cup.
