OCCRP and SIRAJ Win Award for Syrian Football Corruption Exposé
The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and its Syrian partner, SIRAJ, have received the International Sports Press Association’s Investigative Journalism Award. The recognition honors their joint investigation into deep-rooted nepotism and graft within the Syrian football federation under the former Assad regime. The report revealed that Maher al-Assad, brother of the former president, pressured officials to award a lucrative, no-tender marketing contract to an agency owned by his nephew by marriage. This deal granted the agency a substantial 35 percent cut of marketing revenues, bypassing standard competitive processes. SIRAJ reporters Bassel Alhamdou and Mazen Al Hindi secured exclusive documents proving the contract was based solely on family ties. During the award ceremony in Switzerland, Alhamdou highlighted the severe personal risks involved, noting the danger posed to his family while investigating the former regime. Although the Assad government collapsed last December, dismantling much of its patronage network, corruption remains a challenge for the current administration led by President Sharaa. This award underscores the critical role of investigative journalism in exposing illicit financial networks within sports governance, even amidst significant political instability and regime change in Syria.
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OCCRP and SIRAJ Win Award for Syrian Football Corruption Exposé
The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and its Syrian partner, SIRAJ, have received the International Sports Press Association’s Investigative Journalism Award. The recognition honors their joint investigation into deep-rooted nepotism and graft within the Syrian football federation under the former Assad regime. The report revealed that Maher al-Assad, brother of the former president, pressured officials to award a lucrative, no-tender marketing contract to an agency owned by his nephew by marriage. This deal granted the agency a substantial 35 percent cut of marketing revenues, bypassing standard competitive processes. SIRAJ reporters Bassel Alhamdou and Mazen Al Hindi secured exclusive documents proving the contract was based solely on family ties. During the award ceremony in Switzerland, Alhamdou highlighted the severe personal risks involved, noting the danger posed to his family while investigating the former regime. Although the Assad government collapsed last December, dismantling much of its patronage network, corruption remains a challenge for the current administration led by President Sharaa. This award underscores the critical role of investigative journalism in exposing illicit financial networks within sports governance, even amidst significant political instability and regime change in Syria.
OCCRP