SEPP BLATTER’S US$12 million bonus from the 2014 World Cup and yet another police raid for evidence of financial crimes at FIFA revealed the turmoil at soccer’s world body was far from over.

    The scale of Blatter’s pay deal at the end of his 17-year presidency was finally confirmed by FIFA itself in a stunning opening of its financial books Friday.

    The now-banned Blatter and two recently fired top officials — secretary general Jerome Valcke and finance director Markus Kattner — awarded themselves raises, bonuses, and future golden handshakes totaling tens of millions of dollars.

    Some of the contracted payments appear to break Swiss law, lawyers for FIFA said.

    American federal prosecutors, whose ongoing investigation of FIFA corruption could threaten to shut down the body overseeing the world’s favorite sport, will get to see documents and electronic data seized Thursday for a separate probe by Switzerland’s attorney general.

    “The evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses, and other incentives totaling more than 79 million Swiss francs (US$ 82.3 million) — in just the last five years,” said Bill Burck of Quinn Emanuel, the U.S. law firm retained by FIFA during its corruption crisis.

    Blatter’s basic salary of US$3 million in 2015 was topped up by an US$11 million contract bonus for the 2010 World Cup, US$12 million for the 2014 edition, a US$12 million performance bonus had he completed a successful 2015-19 presidential term, and annual bonuses up to US$1.5 million.

    If Blatter’s earnings were legal, his actions in approving multi-year contract extensions for Valcke and Kattner with generous termination and indemnification clauses were potentially criminal, FIFA said.

    It is unclear if events made Blatter’s possible arrest more likely. (SD-Agencies)