Football
Darren Rovell, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Nike denies knowingly participating in bribery or kickback schemes

Sports apparel company Nike issued a second statement in as many days on Thursday, hoping to separate itself from the others listed in the FIFA indictment brought by the U.S. Department of Justice a day before.

After stating that it was cooperating with the government, Nike officials issued another statement Thursday night saying that "the charging documents ... do not allege that Nike engaged in criminal conduct. There is no allegation in the charging documents that any Nike employee was aware of or knowingly participated in any bribery or kickback scheme."

Although Nike wasn't specifically named, the world's largest shoe and apparel brand was hinted at in the indictment brought against current and former football officials and sports marketers as a major U.S. sportswear company that signed a 10-year, $160 million deal with the Brazilian national team in 1996.

The indictment alleges that the U.S. sportswear company not only paid that money, but agreed to pay an affiliate of sports marketing company Traffic Sports -- which was the official marketing agency of the Selecao -- an additional $40 million to a Swiss bank account for negotiating the deal.

The indictment alleges that $30 million was paid to Traffic Sports, and half of that money was later used for kickbacks and bribes.

The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that Traffic Sports' owner and founder Jose Hawilla, who has a company based in Brazil and two based in Florida, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Hawilla paid $25 million in December when he made his plea and agreed to pay back more than $125 million more.

Hawilla was accused of paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks to secure Copa America contracts, media and marketing rights and the sponsorship rights acquired by U.S. sportswear brands.

The Traffic Sports companies pleaded guilty to wire fraud earlier this month.

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