South American Soccer Giant Falls From Grace – Wall Street Journal

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay—In 1996, Nicolás Leoz, then president of the South American Soccer Confederation, wrote to a Paraguayan senator with an unusual request: Grant the confederation immunity from prosecution.

In exchange, Mr. Leoz said, the federation would base itself permanently in this poor, landlocked country.

Paraguay’s congress passed legislation giving the confederation, known as Conmebol, an untouchable status in this…