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FIFA ethics event puts WCup bid probe in spotlight

By WTOP Staff

GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer

ZURICH (AP) — Corruption, secrecy, and a soccer world seeming awash with gifts of watches: there is no shortage of issues to discuss when FIFA decides to talk about ethics.

Soccer’s governing body hosted a conference Friday aimed at setting ethical standards in sports, although it was its own problems that seemed to grab the spotlight in its glass-and-slate headquarters in Zurich.

An event that opened with FIFA President Sepp Blatter hailing the body’s efforts to crack down on corruption was more notable for the rare insight it gave into an ethics probe that is key to the scandal-hit body’s aim of repairing its damaged image.

For the first time, the American prosecutor and German judge tasked with looking into claims that FIFA’s executive committee acted corruptly in awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to Russia and Qatar talked openly about the probe.

They didn’t reveal any investigative details — they would be kicked off the case for that — but raised some eyebrows by pushing back the expected deadline for verdicts and criticizing FIFA’s secrecy rules that prevent them from disclosing more.

Ethics judge Joachim Eckert said he likely won’t have his verdicts ready until early next year — rather than within weeks as expected — and said that regardless of his findings he would not be able to remove either host or order re-votes.

“That is not our job,” Eckert told reporters after his keynote address, suggesting his power was limited to sanctioning members of FIFA’s much-criticized executive committee.

Instead, it would be up to the FIFA executive committee to decide on a re-do of the 2010 vote, an option that could bring the United States back as a 2022 candidate, and would likely provoke legal action from Qatar.

Later, FIFA prosecutor Michael Garcia said he would like to disclose more details of his investigation but complained about the body’s secrecy rules that keep his reports sealed.

“I think that is a disservice in many ways because people are skeptical and want information,” Garcia told the conference.

However, the former U.S. Attorney did insist the probe was conducted so tightly that only he, Eckert and their deputies had seen the 430-page first draft of his report.

Fallout from Garcia’s latest ruling caused upset Friday elsewhere in Switzerland.

In Geneva, UEFA President Michel Platini had some choice words for Garcia’s request that FIFA board members should return luxury watches gifted by Brazil’s soccer federation at the World Cup, or face disciplinary action.

FIFA officials are only allowed to accept gifts of “symbolic or trivial value” and a $26,600 watch does not fit the bill. Senior officials from the federations competing at the World Cup also received the gifts which Garcia wants to turn into a $1.6 million donation for a Brazilian social project.

Platini said he would keep the watch, and make a donation to a charity instead, adding defiantly that: “I’m a well-educated person. I don’t return gifts.”

Platini also questioned FIFA’s timing on an issue he thought could have been resolved in June.

To add to fodder to critics, FIFA also acknowledged Friday that it spent $140,000 on 750 Swiss watches to give delegates at congress in Sao Paulo on the eve of the World Cup. Blatter worked for the watch manufacturer before joining FIFA in 1975.

Still, Blatter used his speech to point out that FIFA has taken unprecedented steps in setting up an independent ethics committee.

“We are the only sports organization which has this independent body for ethics, nobody else, not even the IOC (International Olympic Committee),” Blatter said.

The conference itself, dubbed the World Summit on Ethics in Sports, was meant to bring together leaders from politics, business and academics to “define the role of sports in solving societal problems and to celebrate best practice examples of ethical sportsmanship.”

Blatter made no reference to the World Cup investigation in his speech, or his own meeting Thursday with the visiting Emir of Qatar.

When Eckert was asked whether he met the Emir, the judge offered a smile and a simple “no comment.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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