By Nick Butler

An investigation has been opened into claims members of the Executive Committee illegally accepted gifts ©AFP/Getty ImagesFootball's world governing body is facing more embarrassment after members of its Executive Committee were accused of illegally receiving commemorative watches during the FIFA World Cup earlier this summer.

The gift, a limited-edition commemorative watch created by Parmigiani, the luxury Swiss brand that sponsors the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), was worth $25,000 (£15,400/€19,200) and formed part of an extensive "goody bag" received by all Committee members when they arrived in Brazil, the Sunday Times reported.

This seemingly contravenes the Code of Ethics agreed by the Committee, which bans members from accepting gifts of more than "symbolic or trivial value".

But while three members - Sunil Gulati of the United States, Moya Dodd of Australia and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan - handed back the watches, it has been revealed that the majority did not.

"The CBF distributed commemorative watches at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil from their own sponsor (as part of the Association's centennial celebrations) to various people, including the members of the FIFA Executive Committee," a FIFA statement explained.

"The Ethics Committee was informed about this accordingly in June 2014 and is dealing with the matter."

It is understood they have now requested for all the watches to be returned. 

This is another issue for Michael Garcia, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, to look into ©AFP/Getty ImagesThis is another issue for Michael Garcia, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, to look into ©AFP/Getty Images



This comes as another potential blow to the integrity of the organisation following allegations that leading football officials were paid a total of $5 million (£3 million/€3.6 million) to back Qatar's successful bid for the 2022 edition of the World Cup.

The news also comes just days before FIFA chief Sepp Blatter opens the World Summit on Ethics in Sports at the organisation's Zurich headquarters on Friday (September 19).

Earlier this month, FIFA Ethics Committee chairman Michael Garcia delivered a 350-page report to FIFA's Adjudicatory Chamber following a year-long investigation into the bidding processes of the 2022 and 2018 World Cups, although this has not been made public and no final verdict is expected until November. 

The latest incident involving the watches is particularly interesting because Garcia did rule that plans for each Executive Committee member to be awarded two more watches worth up to $42,000 (£27,400/€34,000) each from the World Cup sponsor Hublot, must be scrapped because they breached the rules.

The FIFA statement added: "The two chairmen determined in June 2014 that this would not be permitted under the organisation's compliance rules and as such it was decided not to distribute any of the watches to any members.

"The fact is that FIFA has not distributed any watches to any of the members of its Executive Committee nor its President neither to its secretary general."

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