Arrests have been made on seven high ranking FIFA officials said to be involved in football related corruption charges. This, according to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch during a press conference organized to deliberate indictments served by the U.S. authorities. The arrests happened Wednesday at one of Zurich's luxury hotels where the seven officials are billeted for FIFA's annual meeting.
A separate inquest by Swiss authorities has also been announced concerning alleged corruption in connection to the awarding of two future World Cups happening in 2018 and 2022 in Russia and Qatar. All seven FIFA officials are now facing extradition to the U.S. The United States Justice Department further disclosed that the charges constitute 47 counts of corrupt practices against nine other football officials and five media executives which involve accusations of racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud.
Four individuals have already pleaded guilty to these charges. The U.S. Department of Justice calls these allegations a "24-year scheme" that the officials designed to enrich themselves. A simultaneous raid has been conducted by the FBI and the I.R.S. at the CONCACAF headquarters in Miami Beach, Florida; also on Wednesday. Both raiding parties declined to comment on the proceedings of the U.S. inquisition on widespread corruption within the organization. CONCACAF is the sport's coordinating body in the Caribbean and in North and Central America.
These events prove to be a very dark and difficult moment for FIFA but football fans all over the world hope that the recent crackdown on corruption helps in promoting an even playing field for the world's most loved sport. FIFA pledged to extend their utmost cooperation with the U.S. and Swiss authorities to make sure that no stone is left unturned and no questions are left unanswered.
FIFA's communications and public affairs director Walter De Gregorio said that these unfortunate events posed no threat to the sport's upcoming tournaments and that no changes are to be made.
