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If CONCACAF fails to adopt a suggested reform package, the U.S. Department of Justice could seize millions of dollars in assets, pursue further criminal charges and possibly even force the organization to be disbanded, the body's own lawyers told its members according to information obtained by Reuters. The 41-member CONCACAF are set to vote on the proposed reform package next month.
As it currently stands, Miami-based CONCACAF is viewed as a victim in the corruption investigation that has already led the indictments of the organization's past three presidents and, most famously, secretary general Chuck Blazer. They are being asked to adopt a series of reforms that includes such things as term limits and an independent oversight committee.
One of those lawyers, Samir Gandhi, had this to say:
"They have an opportunity to fix things. Most companies in this situation don't' get that opportunity, its not like the mafia goes around and says we are going to clean up ourselves and everything will be alright.
"We are getting the chance. We get to clean ourselves up".
Although CONCACAF has already severed ties with Traffic Sports and Datisa -- the two organizations at the hart of the media-rights corruption -- and ended 18 "bogus vendor" agreements, more reforms are considered necessary to keep such arrangements from happening again.
Failure to adopt those reforms, though, could lead the DOJ to stop viewing CONCACAF as the victim. This would put the body at risk of "criminal convictions or deferred/non prosecution agreement; disbanding CONCACAF as an organization, freezing of accounts and/or forfeiture of CONCACAF assets; U.S government imposing a Monitor to closely regulate CONCACAF compliance with anti-corruption laws for up to five years or more," according to a presentation made to members.
Aside from potentially losing access to millions of dollars in assets, disbanding CONCACAF would leave the United States, Mexico, Canada and the other 38 member nations in a bit of limbo. It's unclear what would happen to the ongoing World Cup qualification tournament or how those nations would continue to participate in FIFA events.