A Brooklyn federal judge dismissed criminal charges Wednesday against a former Fox television executive following a prosecutor’s statement that the soccer corruption case no longer aligns with current administration enforcement priorities.
Judge Pamela K. Chen granted the government’s request to drop the indictment against Hernan Lopez after U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. explained the administration’s shift in focus away from international soccer corruption cases.
Lopez, who previously served as CEO of Fox International Channels, smiled as he departed the federal courthouse and expressed relief to reporters, saying “a case that never should have started is finally over.”
During the hearing, Nocella informed Chen that the current administration prioritizes cases involving domestic and international terrorist groups, national security matters, drug trafficking, human trafficking and violent criminal organizations.
The judge determined that Nocella’s explanation, combined with written documentation filed with the court, offered adequate grounds to approve the dismissal request.
In 2023, Lopez and Full Play Group SA, a South American sports media corporation, faced conviction for distributing tens of millions in bribe payments to secure broadcasting rights for World Cup matches and other premier soccer competitions. Chen later overturned those convictions with an acquittal ruling.
An appellate court reversed the acquittals in July, restoring the original convictions, though subsequent appeals left the prosecution’s future unclear.
Chen clarified during Wednesday’s proceedings that her decision to dismiss the charges was not influenced by her earlier acquittal ruling.
Government attorneys informed the Supreme Court in December that officials had concluded dismissing the criminal case serves justice, without providing additional reasoning.
Before issuing her ruling, Chen questioned all parties about how dismissing this indictment might impact the broader decade-long corruption investigation into television rights for international soccer tournaments, which has produced multiple convictions.
FIFA, the international soccer governing organization, stated in court documents filed two weeks prior that it supported the U.S. government’s position that dropping charges against Lopez and Full Play would not directly impact other defendants’ convictions.
FIFA noted its collaboration with the Department of Justice to eliminate corruption from soccer and described implementing disciplinary measures, including permanent bans, to address misconduct uncovered by U.S. authorities.
Justice Department officials wrote to the judge on March 12 explaining that each prosecution within the broader case involves distinct facts and circumstances.
In its filing, FIFA reported that the U.S. government had already transferred $201 million to FIFA and other organizations for distribution to soccer-related community impact projects globally.
FIFA highlighted various funded initiatives, including after-school soccer programs in disadvantaged Miami neighborhoods, renovated community soccer facilities in Ohio, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., teacher and coach training programs throughout the Caribbean, and youth soccer tournaments across South America.
