Several FIFA officials arrested on $100m corruption charges

Several top FIFA officials have been arrested in Switzerland over allegations they were involved in paying bribes adding up to more than $100m. Swiss authorities detained six officials in an early-morning operation in Zurich on suspicion of receiving and paying bribes, the AP news agency reported. The arrests were carried out in order to extradite the officials to the United States, the Swiss government said. U.S. officials suspect the crimes were agreed to and prepared in the U.S., and payments carried out via U.S. banks, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ).

The bribery suspects - representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms - are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to the soccer functionaries (FIFA delegates) and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organisations - totaling more than $100 million.

Switzerland’s justice ministry statement

The FOJ said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating the individuals on suspicion of accepting bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and now. The statement from Switzerland’s justice ministry said the investigation was into allegations involving tournaments in Latin America and the U.S.. One of those detained in Zurich was FIFA Vice-President and North American football association head Jeffrey Webb, according to Press Association Sport. Others held include Costa Rica soccer federation president Eduardo Li, who was elected to FIFA’s executive committee in March. The arrests took place after more than a dozen plain-clothed Swiss police officers arrived unannounced at the Baur au Lac hotel. The officials were in Switzerland ahead of an election which was expected to see FIFA President Sepp Blatter reinstated for a fifth term. FIFA told AP that Blatter was not among the men arrested.

Today is a sad day for football. Clearly this is a developing story, the details of which are still emerging. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

Sepp Blatter’s opponent in the presidential election Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan

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