This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/several-top-fifa-officials-arrested

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges – reports Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges
(35 minutes later)
Several top Fifa officials have been arrested on corruption charges in an early-morning police operation in Zurich. At least six top Fifa officials have been arrested on corruption charges in an early-morning police operation in Zurich.
The New York Times claims that more than a dozen plain-clothed officers descended on the plush five-star Baur au Lac hotel on Wednesday morning. More than a dozen plain-clothed officers descended on the five-star Baur au Lac hotel on Wednesday to make the arrests.
The Swiss city is the setting for this year’s annual meeting of football’s world governing body.The Swiss city is the setting for this year’s annual meeting of football’s world governing body.
Multiple arrests were made on allegations of widespread corruption. The Associated Press quoting Swiss officials said six people had been arrested in Zurich under suspicion of getting or paying bribes. The Associated Press quoted Swiss officials as saying six people had been taken into custody on suspicion of getting or paying bribes. However, the Guardian understands as many as 15 people worldwide might have been arrested as part of the operation.
It is expected that those arrested will face extradition proceedings to the United States where they could federal corruption charges may be waiting for them. The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said those arrested in Zurich were pending extradition at the request of US authorities.
In a statement the FOJ said US authorities suspect the officials of having received or having paid bribes totalling millions of dollars.
“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 - totalling more than USD 100 million,” the FOJ statement said.
“In return, it is believed that they received media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America.”
It said the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating individuals for kick-backs between the early 1990s and now.
The charges stem from a joint investigation by the FBI and US tax authorities that has been ongoing since at least 2011, according to the New York Daily News website.The charges stem from a joint investigation by the FBI and US tax authorities that has been ongoing since at least 2011, according to the New York Daily News website.
According to the reports prosecutors more than 10 officials may be indicted as part of the investigation. Not all of the officials are believed to be in Zurich at present. But it was reported that Sepp Blatter, the president of Fifa, is not one of those arrested in the morning raids.
Not all of the officials are believed to be in Zurich at present. But it is reported that Sepp Blatter, the president of Fifa, is not one of those arrested in the morning raids.
sources tell me sepp blatter is not among the fifa officials who are being arrestedsources tell me sepp blatter is not among the fifa officials who are being arrested
An announcement is expected to be made in New York on Wednesday morning. FIFA spokesman Walter de Gregorio later told The Associated Press: “He is not involved at all.”
A press conference is to be held by the US attorney’s office in New York on Wednesday.
The BBC quoted a Fifa spokesman saying: “We have seen the media reports and are seeking clarity in this matter. We will make no further comment at this stage.”
In November last year, Fifa’s ethics committee closed its investigation into the controversial bidding process that saw Qatar named as host of the 2022 World Cup, ruling that any breaches of the rules were only of “very limited scope”In November last year, Fifa’s ethics committee closed its investigation into the controversial bidding process that saw Qatar named as host of the 2022 World Cup, ruling that any breaches of the rules were only of “very limited scope”
The decision to award Qatar the tournament was hugely controversial, prompting an avalanche of allegations about the way it won the bid and concerns about the searing heat in which it would be played and the treatment of migrant workers building the infrastructure underpinning it.The decision to award Qatar the tournament was hugely controversial, prompting an avalanche of allegations about the way it won the bid and concerns about the searing heat in which it would be played and the treatment of migrant workers building the infrastructure underpinning it.
But Fifa said an investigation did not find any direct link between the World Cup bid and illicit payments made by the disgraced former Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam, a Qatari who was banned for life for paying bribes during a campaign to unseat Blatter as president.But Fifa said an investigation did not find any direct link between the World Cup bid and illicit payments made by the disgraced former Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam, a Qatari who was banned for life for paying bribes during a campaign to unseat Blatter as president.