NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they intend to withdraw their efforts to uphold the convictions of Hernan Lopez, the former CEO of Fox International Channels, and Full Play Group SA. This decision comes after a protracted legal battle over charges linked to corruption concerning television rights for international soccer tournaments.
In 2023, Lopez and Full Play were convicted during a trial held in New York, yet they received an acquittal from a judge shortly thereafter. In July, an appeals court reinstated these convictions, leading to further appeals that left the ongoing prosecution's future ambiguous.
As of this latest development, prosecutors have communicated to the Supreme Court that they believe "dismissal of this criminal case is in the interests of justice." However, they did not provide specific reasons to explain this change in stance. They have requested that the case be remanded to a lower court to allow for consideration of a motion to dismiss the indictment.
Lopez and Full Play's attorneys have not yet responded to inquiries for comments on this matter. This announcement follows a recent decision by the Supreme Court that has complicated the process of securing corruption convictions, as well as a significant shift in the approach to enforcing public integrity laws under the Trump administration.
This year, the federal government has significantly reduced funding for the section of the Justice Department responsible for pursuing corruption and fraud cases involving public officials. Moreover, President Donald Trump previously paused the enforcement of a statute that prohibits U.S. businesses or individuals from engaging in bribery of foreign officials to gain or maintain business contracts.
In the context of this legal landscape, the U.S. is preparing to co-host the 2026 World Cup in collaboration with Canada and Mexico. Notably, Trump has a close relationship with Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA—the global governing body for soccer. Recently, Trump was awarded a new FIFA peace prize, acknowledging his influence and contributions in this realm.
Fox Corp., which separated from its international channels subsidiary during a corporate restructuring in 2019, has not faced any charges in connection with the bribery allegations and has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.
