FIFA Picks PwC as New Audit Firm

FIFA has chosen PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Swiss firm as its new auditing firm as the international soccer federation tries to recover from a high-profile corruption scandal.

The Zurich-based federation’s former auditing firm, KPMG, stepped down in June after some of FIFA’s top officials were charged with accepting bribes in exchange for holding tournaments like the World Cup in certain countries (see KPMG Quits as FIFA’s Auditor, a Move Soccer Body ‘Welcomes’). The IRS’s Criminal Investigation unit was one of the law enforcement agencies involved with indicting nine FIFA officials last year (see IRS Criminal Investigation Helps Bust FIFA Officials).

Last Friday, FIFA announced it has appointed PwC Switzerland as the new statutory auditors of FIFA.
“We are delighted to have appointed PwC, and we look forward to working with them as FIFA moves forward with its program of reforms,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who pointed to the step as an example of the reform process underway at FIFA as the organization works on restoring its financial control and management mechanisms.

FIFA went through a selection process before choosing PwC, the federation noted. Experts within the FIFA administration assessed offers from several other auditing firms and in turn submitted a proposal to the Bureau of the FIFA Council, in consultation with the chair and deputy chair of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee.

PwC’s appointment will initially be effective until the next FIFA Congress in May of next year. At that time, the Congress will then decide on the appointment of FIFA’s statutory auditors for a full three-year period.