A federal judge in Brooklyn has dismissed the indictment against former Fox executive Hernan Lopez and the South American sports media company Full Play Group SA, concluding a high‑profile corruption case tied to the sale of broadcasting rights for international soccer tournaments.
Why the Case Was Dropped
Prosecutors argued that the alleged conduct did not fit the priorities of the Trump administration, which, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, centers on terrorism, national security threats, drug and human trafficking, and violent gangs. The judge accepted this rationale, noting that the matter fell outside the scope of the administration’s prosecutorial agenda.
Lopez, who had been convicted in 2023 of paying bribes to secure World Cup and other premium soccer rights, expressed relief that the legal battle finally ended. The dismissal follows an earlier acquittal by Judge Pamela K. Chen, a reversal by an appeals court in July, and a subsequent reinstatement of the conviction that was later challenged.
The decision highlights the intricate relationship between corporate interests in global sports media and federal enforcement priorities, prompting speculation about how future corruption investigations in the sports sector may be pursued.
While the case has been cleared, scrutiny of bribery and graft within soccer governance remains intense, with ongoing inquiries into other officials and entities that could yet reshape the landscape of international sports broadcasting.