Fifa orders national associations to return watch gifts

From Daily Independent

The world governing body has ordered national association members to return gifts from the Brazilian FA which breached Fifa laws

Watches worth around €20,000 gifted to 32 national associations by the Brazilian FA (CBF) must be handed to Fifa before October 24, the world governing body has announced.

The Parmigiani timepieces were among a series of smaller gifts handed to representatives of national parties arriving at the World Cup in Brazil this summer, as well as 28 Fifa Executive Committee members and 10 other Conmebol nations.

However, Fifa’s Code of Ethics states that anyone within the Fifa framework must report any present with more than a “symbolic or trivial value”, and has set a deadline for all 65 watches to be returned within five weeks.

“The CBF should not have offered the watches, and those who received gift bags should have promptly checked whether the items inside were appropriate and, upon discovering the watch, either returned it or… reported the matter to the investigatory chamber,” a Fifa statement read.

“The FIFA code of ethics plainly prohibits such gifts. If in doubt, gifts shall not be offered or accepted. Football officials are expected to be aware of the importance of their duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities.

“In an effort to resolve this matter expeditiously, the investigatory chamber will not pursue further formal ethics proceedings in this matter against officials who submit the Parmigiani watch they received from CBF to the secretariat of the investigatory chamber by no later than October 24, 2014.”

Parmigiani, a leading Swiss manufacturer, is one of the CBF’s primary sponsors. But when the Brazilian federation included the watches in welcome packs for the World Cup, Fifa was alerted by a number of officials. The world body then referred the issue to Michael Garcia and Domenico Scala of the organisation’s Audit and Compliance Committee.

Upon receipt of the watches, Fifa has promised it will donate the gifts to an independent non-profit organisation or organisations committed to corporate responsibility projects in Brazil.

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EDITOR: As Caymanian Jeff Webb is President of CONCACAF and a VP of Fifa he must also have been a recipient of one of the watches. As of press time there has been no statement from him on the matter.

IMAGE: www.ablogtowatch.com Parmigiani 114 Watch

Related story:

Greg Dyke has received SIX watches since taking over at the FA but insists gift-giving in football has to stop

By Jonny Singer for MailOnline

   FA chairman Greg Dyke given £16,000 watch during the World Cup

   Dyke has promised to return gift but admits it is not unusual

   FA boss says England will lead the way in ending culture of presents

   Dyke also given a watch when England played Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland this month

Greg Dyke has been given six free watches in the last year, including the £16,000 present he received during the World Cup in Brazil.

Dyke, who has promised to return the expensive gift, says he has never used any of the watches, but claims that it is normal in football to be given a present ‘every time you have a game’.

The FA chairman, who took on the role in July 2013, now says he will no longer give or accept any gifts as England tries to lead the way in changing the culture of the game.

Dyke revealed he last received a watch when England beat Switzerland this month with two Welbeck goals

The FA chairman has promised to return his watches, while UEFA president Michel Platini refuses to do so

Greg Dyke says he has never used any of the watches he has been given since taking over as FA chairman

Greg Dyke: I had no idea the watch was so valuable

THE £16,400 PARMIGIANI WATCH

The watch that has caused the controversy is worth £16,400 and is made by the luxury watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier.

With each watch taking upwards of 400 hours to make by hand with precious metals and stones, the timepieces are extremely-highly sought-after and are very expensive.

The watch given to Dyke is worth £16,400, but some Parmigiani watches – for example the Bugatti 370 model – cost £122,000 each.

Approximately £1million of Parmigiani watches were handed out in 65 gift bags by the Brazilian football federation to 32 representatives from World Cup competing countries, FIFA executive members and South American officials at the FIFA Congress in Sao Paulo in June.

‘I’ve been given about six watches since I took over at the FA and I don’t use any of them,’ Dyke told the BBC.

The FA chairman also revealed that he most recently received a watch just two weeks ago, when England travelled to play Switzerland in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

‘I don’t like the culture of present giving in football.’

‘Everywhere you go, every time you have a game they give you some sort of present. It’s usually trinkets.

‘But if they are going to start giving presents of £16,000 then that is not acceptable.

‘Therefore, I think the FA should lead the way by saying: ‘Look, we are not going to be part of this culture anymore. We are not going to give presents or accept them’.

However, Dyke insisted he would not be stepping down over the issue.

‘I don’t think having a watch that you have no idea the value of and have never used is a resigning matter,’ he said.

‘Where this thing is wrong is that I don’t think people should be giving out £16,000 watches. If they are, they should at least tell you the value of the watch.’

The FA chairman wants to end the culture of gift-giving that exists in global football

The FA chairman wants to end the culture of gift-giving that exists in global football

Michel Platini: I will not return the watchParmigiani produced the special watch given to Dyke to mark the 100th anniversary of the Brazilian FA

Parmigiani produced the special watch given to Dyke to mark the 100th anniversary of the Brazilian FA

For more on this story go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2764016/Greg-Dyke-received-SIX-watches-taking-FA-insists-gift-giving-football-stop.html#ixzz3E3msjk00