The alleged corruption inside FIFA, soccer's global governing body, is ironically tied to the organization's success at fueling the sport's growth in far-flung corners of the world over the past few decades, as it pumped millions of dollars into countries struggling to build their youth programs.
Those same programs are also considered among the victims of that graft.
In a 47-count indictment released Wednesday, U.S. prosecutors described a system of bribes, kickbacks and money laundering connected to the awarding of lucrative broadcast and marketing rights for soccer's biggest international tournaments, the choice of South Africa as the World Cup's 2010 host country, and the 2011 vote for FIFA's presidency.