Teddy Roosevelt was fond of the West African proverb to “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” The Justice Department is wielding one of its biggest sticks – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, better known as RICO – to go after bribery and kickbacks that has been rife in international soccer for decades.
RICO has been a popular tool for prosecutors to attack the mob, corporate fraud and corrupt politicians in the United States. Now, the latest Justice Department case will test whether the law can be applied to misconduct by foreigners that largely takes place outside the United States.