Jack Warner was among FIFA delegates were arrested at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich
Following the arrests Swiss investigators have launched a probe into allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Police raided FIFA's headquarters this morning and seized documents as part of separate criminal proceedings in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.
Investigators said they have seized "electronic data" in relation to allegations of "criminal mismanagement and money laundering" carried out by unnamed people related to the Russia and Qatar bids.
Authorities now plan to extradite six officials to the United States following a three-year FBI investigation.
The extraordinary revelations come just two days before FIFA is due to elect its President for the next four years, with the US Attorney General saying prosecutors have amassed evidence of "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption within the organisation.
Vice-president Jeffrey Webb, ex-vice president Jack Warner and Thai official Worawi Makudi are among those expected to face charges.
Also arrested in the dawn raid were Uruguayan football executive Eugenio Figueredo, who was due to stand down on Friday, and Eduardo Li, the President of the Costa Rica Football Association.
The charges include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.
Investigators leading an international probe are said to have uncovered alleged bribery on an enormous scale, with payouts totalling around £65m over the last three decades.
Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner was reportedly arrested
FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb was reportedly arrested by Swiss authorities
More than a dozen policemen arrived at a five-star hotel in the Swiss capital, while the leaders were gathering for their annual meeting.
One officer reportedly carried bags containing medication and money.
The US Department of Justice today revealed that it has put a 47 count indictment before the Federal Court charging 14 separate defendants with statements including racketeering and money laundering.
The indictment describes their alleged crimes as a "24 year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer".
Attorney General Loretta Lynch also revealed that four others, including American former Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer, have already pleaded guilty.
She said: "The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States.
"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.
"And it has profoundly harmed a multitude of victims, from the youth leagues and developing countries that should benefit from the revenue generated by the commercial rights these organisations hold, to the fans at home and throughout the world whose support for the game makes those rights valuable.
"Today's action makes clear that this Department of Justice intends to end any such corrupt practices, to root out misconduct, and to bring wrongdoers to justice - and we look forward to continuing to work with other countries in this effort."
FBI Director James Comey added: "As charged in the indictment, the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world. Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at Fifa. I want to commend the investigators and prosecutors around the world who have pursued this case so diligently, for so many years."
Richard Weber of America's Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation said: "When leaders in an organisation resort to cheating the very members that they are supposed to represent, they must be held accountable.
"Corruption, tax evasion and money laundering are certainly not the cornerstones of any successful business. Whether you call it soccer or football, the fans, players and sponsors around the world who love this game should not have to worry about officials corrupting their sport.
"This case isn't about soccer, it is about fairness and following the law. IRS-CI will continue to investigate financial crimes and follow the money wherever it may lead around the world, levelling the playing field for those who obey the law."
FIFA executive Eugenio Figueredo was amongst those arrested this morning
Eduardio Li, President of the Costa Rica Football Association, is also set to be questioned
Officials in Switzerland, the home base for football's governing body, earlier said that the allegations date back as far as the 1990s and involved "the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs".
The alleged corruption is also said to have involved rigging the media, marketing and sponsorship rights to high profile football tournaments in Latin America in return for bribes.
A spokesman for the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said: "The six soccer functionaries were arrested today in Zurich by the Zurich Cantonal Police.
"The FOJ's arrest warrants were issued further to a request by the US authorities.
"The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating these individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day.
"The bribery suspects - representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms - are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to the soccer functionaries - delegates of Fifa (Federation Internationale de Football Association) and other functionaries of Fifa sub-organisations - totalling more than 100 million US dollars.
"In return, it is believed that they received media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America. According to the US request, these crimes were agreed and prepared in the US, and payments were carried out via US banks."
The spokesman said the suspects' deportation could be sanctioned immediately.
He added: "The Zurich Cantonal Police will question the detainees today on behalf of the FOJ regarding the US request for their arrest.
"A simplified procedure will apply for wanted persons who agree to their immediate extradition. The FOJ can immediately approve their extradition to the US and order its execution.
"However, if a wanted person opposes their extradition, the FOJ will invite the US to submit a formal extradition request within the deadline of 40 days specified in the bilateral extradition treaty."
Journalist Michael S. Schmidt tweeted: "FIFA execs not being led out in handcuffs. Very peaceful. Hotel staff meanwhile is freaking out."
The organisation has been plagued by allegations of bribery for decades.
A law enforcement official was quoted as saying: "We're struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did.
"It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business.
"It seems like this corruption was institutionalised."
The charges reportedly include wire fraud and money laundering.
In a statement today, the current head of the FA Greg Dyke said Friday's election should be postponed in light of the arrests.
He said: "We should stress this morning's developments are very serious for FIFA and its current leadership.
"As one of the associations who nominated Prince Ali it will not surprise you to learn that if the election for president goes ahead The FA will be voting for him.
"However, there must be a question mark over whether the election should take place in these circumstances.
"Clearly things are changing very quickly and our delegation to the FIFA congress in Zurich, which I am leading, will discuss the position and what we should do about it with our colleagues in UEFA when we meet tomorrow morning.
Speaking on Sky News this morning Mark Palios, the former Chief Executive of the FA, said that the latest revelations could be FIFA's ‘Salt Lake City’ moment.
He was referring to allegations of corruption over the selection of Colorado city for the 2002 Winter Olympics which rocked the International Olympics Committee to its core.
As a result of the revelations, and under intense pressure from sponsors, a new structure of accountability was put in place at the IOC which significantly boosted its reputation for accountability.
Mr Palios also said that the arrest of key delegates at their hotel represented an escalation of what has already become a huge crisis in confidence in FIFA, and that key sponsors would be looking at their relationship with the governing body carefully.
He added: "I think FIFA have been fairly arrogant in assuming that there will be a queue of marketing guys that will step up to replace the main sponsors.
"Will this be another Salt Lake City point? I don't know."
Asked if FIFA President Sepp Blatter should resign, he added: "Of course. He should not be standing for a fourth term."
FIFA is holding a presidential election on Friday, when Sepp Blatter has been widely tipped to stay in the job.
Blatter is not understood to be one of the officials charged.
Speaking at a press conference today, FIFA's Director of Communications Walter Gregorio defiantly insisted that the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will take place in Russia and Qatar despite the investigation into corruption in the bidding process.
He said: "The World Cup 2018 and 2022 will be held in Russia and Qatar. What do you expect from us, that we start to speculate?"
He also insisted that Sepp Blatter would not resign as head of the scandal hit body because the allegations do not involve him.
He said: "He's not dancing in his office, he's just calm. He sees what happens, he's fully co-operating with everybody.
"He's not a kind of happy man today but he knows these are the consequences of what we initiated, so it's a surprise that it happens today but it's not a surprise that it happens."
Responding to questions from a bristling press pack Mr Gregorio confirmed that the FIFA executives involved have not been suspended, but said that the governing body has co-operated fully with investigators.
He said: "This for FIFA is good. It's not good in terms of image, it's not good in terms of reputation but in terms of everything we did in the last four years, in terms of the reform process it's good."
Reacting to the revelations Prince Ali Bin al Hussein of Jordan, who is challenging Blatter for the Fifa presidency, said: "Today is a sad day for football.
"Clearly this is a developing story, the details of which are still emerging.
"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."
The US attorney general Loretta Lynch is due to hold a news conference later today.
No comments :
Post a Comment