Seven FIFA officials arrested in police raid in Zurich – NU.nl

This was reported by the US Department of Justice. Including vice president Jeffrey Webb was arrested.

The action took place at the request of the United States and follows a four-year investigation by the FBI abuses within the world football.

A total of fourteen people, including nine FIFA representatives, considered a suspect. Only seven of the suspects Wednesday in the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich have been present. The officers stayed there for the congress of FIFA.

On Wednesday morning are also electronic data and documents seized at the FIFA headquarters, reports AP . The Swiss Justice also opened an investigation into the awarding of the World Cup to Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022), for which ten FIFA directors be questioned.

Concacaf

Most of the suspects belong to the Concacaf federation, where the unions in North, Central America and the Caribbean are affiliated. According to CNN Concacaf headquarters in Miami Wednesday morning (local time) searched.

In addition Vice President Webb were also the Costa Rican Eduardo Li, the Uruguayan Eugenio Figueredo and Julio Rocha are held in Nicaragua. Even Jack Warner (Trinidad and Tobago) and Nicolás Leoz sit in the fourteen suspects.

Warner joined FIFA in 2011 when his name was in a huge corruption scandal. Leoz is a former member of the FIFA committee and former president of the South American Football CONMEBOL.

Reaction FIFA

The FIFA states in a reaction that the body is fully cooperating with the process . “We look at all requests for information,” said FIFA press officer Walter De Gregorio. “We do need to be answered in our own interest. All questions. We damaged in this story.”

According to De Gregorio its Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and president Sepp Blatter not involved in the research.

Blatter on Wednesday picked up. The 79-year-old Swiss is likely to Friday for the fourth time be re-elected as chairman. That election goes according to De Gregorio continues.

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan is the only remaining rival candidate Blatter, after among others KNVB president Michael van Praag and Luis Figo withdrew

FIFA officials arrested

The Swiss police Wednesday arrested in Zurich six FIFA officials suspected of taking bribes and accepting secret commissions. © Reuters

This reports the Swiss public prosecutor Wednesday. Including vice president Jeffrey Webb would have been arrested. © Reuters

The action took place at the request of the United States and follows a four-year investigation by the FBI abuses within the world football. © Reuters

According to international media are more than ten officials suspicious, but only six of them would be present at the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich where officials stayed for the annual meeting of FIFA. © Reuters

The FIFA states in response to a press conference that the body is fully cooperating with the prcoes. © Reuters

“We look at all requests for information,” said FIFA press officer Walter De Gregorio. “We do need to be answered in our own interest. All questions. We damaged in this story.” © Reuters

According to Gregoria its Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and president Sepp Blatter not involved in the research. © Reuters

It would be next to Vice President Webb will among others to the Costa Rican Eduardo Li, the Uruguayan Eugenio Figueredo (pictured), Jack Warner from Trinidad and Tobago and Julio Rocha from Nicaragua. © AFP

The Paraguayan Nicolas Leoz, a former member of the FIFA committee and former president of the South American Football CONMEBOL, was arrested Wednesday. © AFP

Among others Rafael Esquivel, president of the Venezuelan Football Federation, has been arrested. © AFP

Jack Warner (Trinidad and Tobago) would sit in the fourteen suspects. Warner joined FIFA in 2011 when his name was in a huge corruption scandal. © AFP

Eduardo Li, head of the Costa Rican Football Federation, is also among the suspects. © AFP

Bribes

The suspects would total around 100 million dollars in bribes have been bought by sports media and marketing companies in North America and Latin America. In return, the media, marketing and sponsorship rights of tournaments would be in the represented companies ended the corrupters.

These abuses were prepared in the United States and exported through US banks.

The arrested officers may be extradited to the United States, reports the Swiss OM. It is unclear at which tournaments the bribery occurred.

From Prague

From Prague late Wednesday morning in front of the NIS know that he is not on the arrests will respond. “I must first read it all again. I now no comment,” said Van Praag.

The KNVB says he is shocked by the news, while the formal confirmation of the news and see what happens if it comes with a response.

Video: FIFA officials arrested in Zurich

2022 World Cup

Last year, FIFA itself did investigate abuses within the union and in particular in the allocation of the World Cups of 2018 and 2022 to Russia and Qatar respectively.

The ethics committee of the union at that time came to the conclusion that there was no question of serious abuses and that there was therefore no new ballot.

FIFA press secretary De Gregorio says that the World Championships in Russia and Qatar continue.

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