Fifa officials arrested in Zurich on US corruption charges
Fifa president Sepp Blatter holds a press conference at the Fifa headquarters in Zurich on March 20, 2015. Kenya is among the countries expected to vote for the re-election of Josef “Sepp” Blatter who is seeking a fifth term as president of Fifa. PHOTO | MICHAEL BUHOLZER |
What you need to know:
- The officials part of international soccer's top body face extradition to the US following their arrest at an expensive Swiss hotel, the paper said.
- The charges are a major challenge for Fifa that comes as its head Sepp Blatter looks to secure a fifth term in a Friday vote.
NEW YORK
Top Fifa and football officials were arrested early Wednesday morning by Swiss police acting on US corruption charges, The New York Times reported, a crisis for the organisation that has been dogged by bribery allegations.
The officials, part of international football's top body, face extradition to the US following their arrest at an expensive Swiss hotel, the paper said.
More than 10 officials are to be charged with "wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering" in New York by the Department of Justice.
The charges are a major challenge for Fifa that comes as its head Sepp Blatter looks to secure a fifth term in a Friday vote.
Blatter, a powerful figure in sports, is not a target of the US case, The New York Times reported.
In May, Blatter denied he was a target of an FBI corruption investigation.
The denial came after an ESPN television documentary said the Swiss official stayed away from the US over a Fifa investigation.
