This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32895048
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Fifa corruption inquiries: Officials arrested in Zurich | Fifa corruption inquiries: Officials arrested in Zurich |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two criminal investigations into corruption at football's world governing body Fifa are under way, with seven senior officials arrested in Zurich on US charges. | Two criminal investigations into corruption at football's world governing body Fifa are under way, with seven senior officials arrested in Zurich on US charges. |
| Separately, Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal case into the bids for the 2018 and 2022 world cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively. | Separately, Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal case into the bids for the 2018 and 2022 world cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively. |
| The seven are among 14 indicted on corruption charges, US authorities say. | The seven are among 14 indicted on corruption charges, US authorities say. |
| Fifa says it plans to go ahead with elections for president on Friday. | Fifa says it plans to go ahead with elections for president on Friday. |
| Incumbent president Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term, was not one of the seven high-ranking officials arrested. | Incumbent president Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term, was not one of the seven high-ranking officials arrested. |
| Fifa also said on Wednesday there would be no rerun of the World Cup bidding processes which saw Russia awarded the tournament in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, despite the Swiss inquiry. | Fifa also said on Wednesday there would be no rerun of the World Cup bidding processes which saw Russia awarded the tournament in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, despite the Swiss inquiry. |
| Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan - Mr Blatter's rival for the Fifa presidency - described the arrests as "a sad day for football". | 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 electronic data and documents seized. | Fifa's Zurich headquarters has also been raided, with electronic data and documents seized. |
| Follow live updates | Follow live updates |
| Key questions answered | Key questions answered |
| 'Rampant, systematic, deep-rooted' | 'Rampant, systematic, deep-rooted' |
| The US justice department said 14 individuals were under investigation worldwide, including former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, for allegedly accepting bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m (£97m) over a 24-year period. | |
| Seven of those under investigation were arrested in a police operation at a five-star hotel in Zurich early on Wednesday: | |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| US authorities are also searching the headquarters of Concacaf in Miami, Florida, as part of their investigations into the case. | US authorities are also searching the headquarters of Concacaf in Miami, Florida, as part of their investigations into the case. |
| Football's untouchable 'dark prince' - Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Switzerland | Football'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 corruption. | 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 corruption. |
| "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 of the back door. | But as scandal follows scandal, Mr Blatter's determination not to leave his post willingly could see him bundled unceremoniously out of the back door. |
| Sepp Blatter: The man who won't give up | Sepp Blatter: The man who won't give up |
| Fifa "welcomes the process and co-operates fully with the attorney general of Switzerland," spokesman Walter DeGregorio told reporters on Wednesday. | Fifa "welcomes the process and co-operates fully with the attorney general of Switzerland," spokesman Walter DeGregorio told reporters on Wednesday. |
| "It is certainly a difficult moment for us," he said, "but this is good for Fifa. It confirms that we are on the right track". | "It is certainly a difficult moment for us," he said, "but this is good for Fifa. It confirms that we are on the right track". |
| Both Swiss and US justice officials said the indicted officials had allegedly received $150m worth of bribes from the early 1990s for football tournaments in the US and Latin America. | Both Swiss and US justice officials said the indicted officials had allegedly received $150m worth of bribes from the early 1990s for football tournaments in the US and Latin America. |
| The alleged crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US via US bank accounts, the office of the Swiss prosecutor said, adding that the Swiss authorities could immediately approve the extradition. | |
| In a separate move, Swiss 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". | In a separate move, Swiss 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". |
| Fifa has been mired in controversy in recent years, with the most recent allegations of bribery related to the 2018 and 2022 bidding process. | Fifa has been mired in controversy in recent years, with the most recent allegations of bribery related to the 2018 and 2022 bidding process. |
| Please share your reaction to this story with us. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments | Please share your reaction to this story with us. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments |
| You can also tweet your thoughts to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | You can also tweet your thoughts to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
| Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 | Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 |
| Read our terms and conditions. | Read our terms and conditions. |