FIFA’s reputation has taken a bit of battering recently and world football’s governing body is remaining tight lipped over a museum, that is usually dedicated to gun-toting gangsters, giving the organization its very own exhibition.
Las Vegas’ “Mob Museum,” officially named the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, will open the display “The ‘Beautiful Game’ Turns Ugly” on September 1.
“The display provides an incisive and eye-opening look into the rampant corruption that plagues the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization that runs international soccer,” read a statement on the museum’s website.
“Through photographs, media clippings and cover stories and expository narrative, the Museum’s new FIFA exhibit gives a breakdown of the kickbacks, secrecy and match-fixing associated with the scandal.”
FIFA declined to comment on the Mob Museum’s new exhibition when contacted by CNN.
World football’s governing body has recently been embroiled in scandal after the U.S. indicted 14 people, including nine top FIFA officials, on corruption charges. Swiss authorities simultaneously opened a separate investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively.
Amidst the arrests and scandal, FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who’s denied any wrongdoing and was not among those indicted, announced he would be stepping down. Still, he remains in charge until the elections to find his successor in February 2016.
“This exhibit is ripped right from today’s headlines about the globe’s most popular sport,” said Jonathan Ullman, executive director of The Mob Museum, in a statement.
“To our growing number of visitors from places like the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil and Italy, the FIFA scandal provides an especially resonant example of the different shapes organized crime can take.”
The museum’s website says the gallery presents a “bold and authentic view of organized crime’s impact on Las Vegas history, as well as, its unique imprint on America and the world.”
