6 FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges, Face Extradition to US

Local Editor

A massive US investigation had led to an early morning raid by Swiss police on senior FIFA officials staying at a Zurich hotel. The suspects face federal corruption charges and may be extradited to the United States.

The organization's officials reportedly stand accused of making World Cup bid bribes, arranging broadcaster and marketing deals, as well as wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

Further, an official statement by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said the six had received millions of dollars over the years for crimes set up and organized from the US, with American banks involved in the payments. The crimes reportedly go all the way back to the early 1990s.

"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 - delegates of FIFA and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations - totaling more than US$100 million," the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in a statement."

"In return, it is believed that they received media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America" the statement added.

"The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating these individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kickbacks between the early 1990s and the present day."

Football's big shots were staying at a lavish five-star hotel in the Swiss Alpsahead of this week's FIFA presidential election.

Moreover, the New York Times reported they were caught unawares as police entered reception, obtained keys and preceded upstairs. The arrests were all made quietly - some without handcuffs, others even allowed luggage. Pictures emerged online of the figures being led out under covers to avoid disclosing some identities.

The Swiss FOJ also confirmed that FIFA president Sepp Blatter was not among those arrested. Blatter was expected to become sports' most powerful person again this Friday, when he secures a fifth term as president.

Nonetheless, the NYT added that the indictment features the names of 14 officials, citing three law enforcement officials "with direct knowledge of the case."

The officials confirmed the charges against Vice-President Jeffrey Webb, as well as Eugenio Figuerdo, Jack Warner, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, José Maria Marin and Nicolás Leoz.

Further charges were also expected against sports-marketing executives who were involved in and facilitated the payments. They reportedly include Alejandro Burzaco, Aaron Davidson, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis. José Margulies was reportedly an intermediary who facilitated illegal payments.

Additionally, one of the law enforcement officials told the NYT: "We're struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did... It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business. It seems like this corruption was institutionalized."

The press is expecting an official announcement on Wednesday afternoon from the FBI and the US attorney-general.

Accordingly, Switzerland's treaty with the US provided that on matters of general criminal law, the local authorities can extradite suspects for prosecution in American courts if requested.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team