A federal judge in Brooklyn has dismissed the indictment against former Fox International Channels chief executive Hernan Lopez and the South American sports media firm Full Play Group SA, ending a high‑profile corruption case tied to the sale of broadcasting rights for international soccer tournaments.
Judge Pamela K. Chen said that the U.S. Attorney’s Office had explained that the matter did not fit within the priorities of the Trump administration, which focus on terrorism, national security, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking and violent gangs.
The decision marks the latest twist in a saga that began with a 2023 conviction of Lopez and Full Play Group SA for allegedly paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to secure rights to the World Cup and other marquee soccer matches.
An appellate court had reinstated those convictions in July, but subsequent appeals kept the case alive until Chen’s recent ruling, which clarified that her earlier acquittal order was not the basis for the dismissal.
A Misaligned Prosecutorial Vision
The judge’s reasoning reflects a broader recalibration of how the Justice Department allocates its limited resources.
While the case involved high‑stakes media deals, the dismissal highlights the difficulty of fitting corporate bribery in international sports into the administration’s defined enforcement agenda.
The decision also raises questions about the future of similar investigations, as prosecutors may need to align their filings more closely with the priorities set by the current administration.