CONCACAF suing Los Angeles area company over alleged kickback scheme with ex officials

LOS ANGELES _ CONCACAF is suing a California company for at least $50 million in an alleged kickback scheme involving two former executives of the soccer body.

The Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Association Football filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court in Los Angeles. It names Los Angeles area-based Cartan Tours, its owner, an executive and three related companies.

The lawsuit alleges “a clandestine, kickback-based and parasitic relationship” between Cartan and two ex-CONCACAF executives, president Jeffrey Webb and general secretary Enrique Sanz.

Cartan Tours said Wednesday that the lawsuit is baseless and it will file its own claims for damages.

Webb has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges after his arrest with other FIFA officials in Switzerland in May. Webb also was a FIFA vice-president and executive committee member.

The Associated Pres