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Fifa corruption probe: Officials arrested in Zurich Fifa corruption probes: Officials arrested in Zurich
(35 minutes later)
Six football officials have been arrested over corruption charges at governing body Fifa and face extradition to the US, officials say. Two criminal probes into corruption at football's governing body Fifa are under way, after seven senior officials were arrested in Zurich on US charges.
Separately, Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal case into the 2018 and 2022 football World Cup bids. Separately, Swiss prosecutors launched a criminal case into the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively.
The suspects, who include a Fifa vice-president, allegedly accepted bribes worth $150m (£65m; €92m) over 20 years. Nine football officials are among 14 people indicted on corruption charges, the US justice department says.
Fifa members are due to vote Friday in a presidential election. Incumbent Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term. Fifa plans to go ahead with elections for its next president on Friday.
However, Mr Blatter is not understood to be one of those arrested. Incumbent President Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term. He was not one of those arrested.
Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan - Mr Blatter's rival for the Fifa presidency - described the development as "a sad day for football", but withheld from commenting further. Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan - Mr Blatter's rival for the Fifa presidency - described the arrests as "a sad day for football".
Fifa's Zurich headquarters has also been raided, with documents seized, Swiss prosecutors say. Fifa's Zurich headquarters has also been raided, with electronic data and documents seized.
'Seeking clarification' 'Rampant, systematic, deep-rooted'
Those arrested include: The US justice department said 14 individuals were under investigation worldwide, including high-ranking Fifa officials, for allegedly accepting bribes worth $150m (£97m). They include:
"The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States," said US Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
Several officials have already pleaded guilty, the US Department of Justice says. These include Charles Blazer, the former head of Concacaf, who was previously on the Fifa executive committee.Several officials have already pleaded guilty, the US Department of Justice says. These include Charles Blazer, the former head of Concacaf, who was previously on the Fifa executive committee.
Fifa was seeking to clarify the situation, a spokesman said. Mr Blazer, one of Fifa's most senior US representatives, allegedly started working with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and took part in undercover work, according to US media reports.
Football's untouchable 'dark prince' - Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, SwitzerlandFootball's untouchable 'dark prince' - Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Switzerland
Many have wondered how Sepp Blatter can have been in charge of Fifa for so long, amid so many reports of corruption, and yet remain, apparently, untouched.Many have wondered how Sepp Blatter can have been in charge of Fifa for so long, amid so many reports of corruption, and yet remain, apparently, untouched.
One Swiss newspaper jokingly called him "the dark prince of football, the godfather, Don Blatterone' - but no inquiry has ever revealed proof of his involvement in bribery.One Swiss newspaper jokingly called him "the dark prince of football, the godfather, Don Blatterone' - but no inquiry has ever revealed proof of his involvement in bribery.
"He's a survivor," says one member of parliament, Roland Buechel. "Nothing ever sticks to him; there is always someone between him and the bribes.""He's a survivor," says one member of parliament, Roland Buechel. "Nothing ever sticks to him; there is always someone between him and the bribes."
Some old friends describe Mr Blatter as down to earth and open. Others who have worked with him say he is a man who resents opposition, pointing to the swift departure of Fifa colleagues who dared to question him.Some old friends describe Mr Blatter as down to earth and open. Others who have worked with him say he is a man who resents opposition, pointing to the swift departure of Fifa colleagues who dared to question him.
What emerges, finally, is a man who both critics and supporters say cannot imagine his life without Fifa, a man whose tenure as president has outlasted three marriages.What emerges, finally, is a man who both critics and supporters say cannot imagine his life without Fifa, a man whose tenure as president has outlasted three marriages.
But as scandal follows scandal, Mr Blatter's determination not to leave his post willingly could see him bundled unceremoniously out the back door.But as scandal follows scandal, Mr Blatter's determination not to leave his post willingly could see him bundled unceremoniously out the back door.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a statement on Wednesday that US authorities suspected the officials of receiving $150m (£97m) worth of bribes since the early 1990s for football tournaments in Latin America. Sepp Blatter: The man who won't give up
Fifa "welcomes the process and cooperates fully with the attorney general of Switzerland," spokesman Walter DeGregorio told reporters on Wednesday.
"It is certainly a difficult moment for us," he added.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said that US authorities suspected the indicted officials of receiving $150m worth of bribes since the early 1990s for football tournaments in Latin America.
The crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US via US bank accounts, it adds.The crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US via US bank accounts, it adds.
Swiss authorities can immediately approve the extradition, the statement continues.Swiss authorities can immediately approve the extradition, the statement continues.
In a separate move, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings "against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups," said a statement from the Swiss attorney-general.In a separate move, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings "against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups," said a statement from the Swiss attorney-general.
Earlier this month, Mr Blatter said he was aware some of his former colleagues were under investigation but denied that it involved him. Fifa has been mired in controversy in recent years, with the most recent allegations of bribery related to the 2018 and 2022 bidding process that awarded the World Cup to Russia and Qatar respectively.
He was responding to an ESPN documentary that claimed the Fifa president had been avoiding travel to the US for almost four years due to the investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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