The Fifa presidential election will still go ahead despite the launch of two damaging corruption investigations.
Seven Fifa officials were arrested in dawn raids on charges of receiving millions of US dollars in bribes.
A separate criminal investigation into the how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated was also launched by Swiss authorities.
Sepp Blatter faces Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday’s election as he seeks a fifth term as Fifa president.
Fifa, world football’s governing body, has been dogged by allegations of corruption and wrongdoing in recent years.
The latest developments are another major blow, although Fifa communications director Walter De Gregorio insisted the organisation was continuing to reform.
“This is good for Fifa,” he told a news conference following news of the arrests. “It hurts, it is not easy, but it confirms we are on the right track.”
The seven Fifa officials were arrested after the US Department of Justice issued a 47-count indictment charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a 24-year scheme.
“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted,” said New York attorney general Loretta Lynch.
“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”
The charges allege:
Source:
BBC
A separate criminal investigation into the how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated was also launched by Swiss authorities.
Sepp Blatter faces Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday’s election as he seeks a fifth term as Fifa president.
Fifa, world football’s governing body, has been dogged by allegations of corruption and wrongdoing in recent years.
The latest developments are another major blow, although Fifa communications director Walter De Gregorio insisted the organisation was continuing to reform.
“This is good for Fifa,” he told a news conference following news of the arrests. “It hurts, it is not easy, but it confirms we are on the right track.”
The seven Fifa officials were arrested after the US Department of Justice issued a 47-count indictment charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a 24-year scheme.
“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted,” said New York attorney general Loretta Lynch.
“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”
The charges allege:
- Nine current or former Fifa officials, including Jeffrey Webb and former Fifa vice president Jack Warner, charged with corruption
- Four individual and two corporate defendants – including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer and Warner’s son Darayn plead guilty
- Alleged scheme “fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created uneven playing field”
- “Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks and bribes became a way of doing business at Fifa” – US DOJ
- Majority of scheme involved corruption over media and marketing rights to matches and tournaments
Source:
BBC
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