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BREAKING: Top FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland, to be indicted on corruption charges

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DHSC

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Several top FIFA officials are being arrested and will be indicted Wednesday morning on corruption charges, reports The New York Times.

The officials, who were gathering in Switzerland for their annual meeting, face extradition to the United States, according to the Times. More than 10 are expected to be indicted, however law enforcement officials told the Times that not all of them are currently in Zurich for the meetings.

The United States Justice Department requested the arrests, which the Times reports were made by Swiss law enforcement. Charges include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

The Times reports that FIFA president Sepp Blatter is not among those charged. Blatter is expected to be re-elected as head of soccer's governing body on Friday.

From the Times:
United States law gives the Justice Department wide authority to bring cases against foreign nationals living abroad, an authority that prosecutors have used repeatedly in international terrorism cases. Those cases can hinge on the slightest connection to the United States, like the use of an American bank or Internet service provider.​
Switzerland’s treaty with the United States is unusual in that it gives Swiss authorities the power to refuse extradition for tax crimes, but on matters of general criminal law, the Swiss have agreed to turn people over for prosecution in American courts.​
The FBI has been investigating corruption charges against FIFA with regard to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. FIFA commissioned a report to investigate the bid process but found no improprieties.

Earlier this month, Blatter denied an ESPN report that he is avoiding the United States because of the FBI investigation and said he will visit the country in 2016.

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/05/27/fifa-officials-indicted-corruption-charges
 
*looks at calendar*

Nope, definitely not 1st April.

Curious.
 
Hopefully timed to cause blather the most embarrassment before the 'vote' on Friday. Not that it'll change the outcome of course.
 
Blatter's savvy, he's ensured he's got enough smaller federations onside with goodies to have a built in majority. I'd be surprised if he were toppled.
 
I thought that FIFA covered themselves by making sure they were only accountable to themselves? Is this telling us they're involved in other dodgy dealings?
 
I thought that FIFA covered themselves by making sure they were only accountable to themselves? Is this telling us they're involved in other dodgy dealings?

Not as such. If my sketchy & possibly I'll informed view is correct I think it's the fact if you take a bribe, you have to get that money, yet not declare it, which opens you up to those type of charges.
 
Not as such. If my sketchy & possibly I'll informed view is correct I think it's the fact if you take a bribe, you have to get that money, yet not declare it, which opens you up to those type of charges.
That's true, but It's the Americans that are after them. Surely all those officials live, or at least say they live, in Switzerland? I thought that's why FIFA was based there, we all know Switzerland practically turns a blind eye to dodgy money.
 
The BBC have named 4 of the 6 arrested:

[article]Jeffrey Webb - head of the confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean

Costa Rica's Eduardo Li, who was due to join Fifa's executive committee on Friday

Uruguay's Eugenio Figueredo, president of South American football governing body Conmebol

Brazil's Jose Maria Marin, a member of Fifa's club committee[/article]

[article]The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a statement on Wednesday that US authorities suspected the officials of receiving $100m worth of bribes since the early 1990s. 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.[/article]
 
Guardian have a list of about 14
Not all are FIFA though. And the Guardian are quoting the New York Times.

[article]The New York Times is now reporting 14 names of people it says have been charged in the US indictments.

It is not clear how this list corresponds to the six people arrested in Zurich today, although it is believed that Jeffrey Webb and Eduardo Li were among those taken into custody:

The 14 people are:
Fifa

Jeffrey Webb
Eugenio Figueredo
Jack Warner
Eduardo Li
Julio Rocha
Costas Takkas
Rafael Esquivel
José Maria Marin
Nicolás Leoz

Others

The New York Times says charges “were also expected against” sports marketing executives Alejandro Burzaco, Aaron Davidson, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis.

It said José Margulies has also been charged for allegedly facilitating illegal payments.[/article]
 
Could get interesting...

[article]The Swiss Federal Office of Justice has announced it is now questioning 10 people who took part in voting on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. More to follow.[/article]
(Guardian)
 
That's true, but It's the Americans that are after them. Surely all those officials live, or at least say they live, in Switzerland? I thought that's why FIFA was based there, we all know Switzerland practically turns a blind eye to dodgy money.

Yeah until you go to America run your mouth and get arrested in a Benihana restaurant.
 
Come on. That's not gonna fool people. Certainly not me.

It's the standard 'get a few fall guys to show the world that I'm serious about stemming corruption so please elect me for another term' Sepp Blatter move.

I mean, isn't it ironic that just when Sepp Blatter, the godfather of arguably the biggest mob organization is running for presidency again, and these sort of breaking news pop up.

We've seen this move before by many politicians all over the world. Especially the corrupt ones. So nothing new then.

Get the big fat shark, not the little anchovies. Then I'll say wow. Look at those names again. TOP officials my arse.
 
Blatter was expected to be comfortably reelected. How does that fit your brilliant theory O Wise One?
 
Comfortable yes. But his organization has been under increasing scrutiny and investigation for a good while now.

He certainly doesn't want that attention does he ? Don't forget that can of worms he's been hiding is a gigantic barrel of snakes now.
 
Come on. That's not gonna fool people. Certainly not me.

It's the standard 'get a few fall guys to show the world that I'm serious about stemming corruption so please elect me for another term' Sepp Blatter move.

I mean, isn't it ironic that just when Sepp Blatter, the godfather of arguably the biggest mob organization is running for presidency again, and these sort of breaking news pop up.

We've seen this move before by many politicians all over the world. Especially the corrupt ones. So nothing new then.

Get the big fat shark, not the little anchovies. Then I'll say wow. Look at those names again. TOP officials my arse.


Are you mad !! Its the fbi ffs - its obviously been timed for when all the delegates are in Zurich to reannoint his majesty for maximum embarrassment - seperately the Swiss judicary has seized fifas offices - you really think this is Blatter's doing?
 
It's a bit odd that Jack Warner has been arrested, seeing as this brazenly crooked buffoon has been allowed to get away with it for about forty years.
 
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