Chris Maduewesi
Member
FIFA ethics committee has instructed its executives to return the watch gifts they received at the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament.
An investigation by the Sunday Times revealed that FIFA executives and some chairmen of football associations were handed expensive watches by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF).
The gifts were handed out to the football administrators as a memento for the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament which Brazil hosted.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini are some of the high-profiled officials to have received the controversial watch that is worth £16,000 .
Following the widespread criticisms,FIFA has asked its officials to return the watches or risk disciplinary actions taken against them.
Presidents of 32 football associations, 28 FIFA executive committee members, and five other members of South American associations were those who got the gifts.
FIFA's ethics committee headed by Michael Garcia, said in a statement: "The CBF should not have offered the watches, and those who received gift bags should have promptly checked whether the items inside were appropriate and, upon discovering the watch, either returned it or reported the matter.
"The FIFA code of ethics plainly prohibits such gifts. Officials may not offer or accept gifts that have more than 'symbolic or trivial value'."
The ethics committee explained that the CBF distributed 65 gift bags, which each contained a Parmigiani watch, to officials on the FIFA executive committee, a representative from each of the 32 national associations taking part in the World Cup, and delegates from the South American national associations.
An investigation by the Sunday Times revealed that FIFA executives and some chairmen of football associations were handed expensive watches by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF).
The gifts were handed out to the football administrators as a memento for the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament which Brazil hosted.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini are some of the high-profiled officials to have received the controversial watch that is worth £16,000 .
Following the widespread criticisms,FIFA has asked its officials to return the watches or risk disciplinary actions taken against them.
Presidents of 32 football associations, 28 FIFA executive committee members, and five other members of South American associations were those who got the gifts.
FIFA's ethics committee headed by Michael Garcia, said in a statement: "The CBF should not have offered the watches, and those who received gift bags should have promptly checked whether the items inside were appropriate and, upon discovering the watch, either returned it or reported the matter.
"The FIFA code of ethics plainly prohibits such gifts. Officials may not offer or accept gifts that have more than 'symbolic or trivial value'."
The ethics committee explained that the CBF distributed 65 gift bags, which each contained a Parmigiani watch, to officials on the FIFA executive committee, a representative from each of the 32 national associations taking part in the World Cup, and delegates from the South American national associations.
