The US college basketball is shaken by a bribery scandal.After two years of investigation by the FBI, ten people were arrested on Tuesday, including a manager of the sporting goods giant adidas.The allegations are corruption, fraud and bribery in connection with the recruitment of players and the conclusion of sponsorship contracts in the NCAA.
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Charges were brought against all parties involved, and the arrests were the result of covert investigations and talks with informants.Trainers, agents and financial advisors are said to be looking to illegally enrich themselves with talent deals that could turn into future millionaires in the NBA.
“The defendants have taken advantage of students’ dreams all over the country,”prosecutor Joon Kim said.The coaches had abused the confidence of their protégés.According to Kim, the bribery of coaches by other participants was “a business investment.They knew that the coaches would get the players to use their services.And they knew that a lot of money is to be made when they become professionals.”
The arrested adidas employee is the director of global basketball sports marketing.He is said to have paid the family of a high school player $100,000 to move to a university equipped by adidas.
“We cannot tolerate the accused behaviour.Trainers have a special relationship of trust with students and families.The allegations, if true, would be a disgusting breach of trust,”said Mark Emmert, President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).The League will support the investigations.adidas also wants to cooperate with the authorities.
The college league is extremely popular in the USA.Especially the play-offs among the best teams (“March Madness”) fascinate millions of Americans.