The US government has decided to drop its case against Hernan Lopez, a former Fox broadcasting executive, and Argentine sports marketing firm Full Play, linked to the massive FIFA corruption scandal that shook global football.

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Background of the Case

Lopez and Full Play were convicted in March 2023 for allegedly paying bribes to secure lucrative television rights from international football officials. Their convictions were overturned on appeal, then reinstated in July 2025.

This case emerged from a 2015 US Department of Justice (DOJ) probe, which ultimately contributed to the resignation of then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

During the trial, prosecutors revealed that the kickbacks primarily benefited six top South American football officials, including:

• Former CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz (d. 2019)
• Former Argentine football executive Julio Grondona (d. 2014)
• Former Brazilian football chief Ricardo Teixeira

Lopez faced up to 40 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines on charges of money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.

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Supreme Court Filing

On Tuesday, prosecutors informed the US Supreme Court that they wanted to end efforts to preserve the convictions, calling dismissal of the case “in the interests of justice.”

The case will now be returned to a lower court for formal dismissal. Lopez, a US and Argentine citizen, expressed relief on social media, stating:

“I’m grateful the truth prevailed, and I’m also confident more of that truth will come out.”

No direct involvement of President Donald Trump has been reported, though he has previously issued pardons for corruption-related offenses and ordered the DOJ to pause enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act earlier this year.

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Wider Context

The FIFA scandal, which broke in 2015, involved widespread bribery related to television rights and tournament hosting, prompting major reforms in international football governance.

Lopez’s dismissal comes ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has recently aligned with Trump, even awarding him FIFA’s inaugural “peace prize.”