FIFA oficials face $100 million corruption charges

Six FIFA officials were in the early hours of today detained by Swiss authorities on suspicions of receiving and paying bribes. US officials suspect the crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US, and payments carried out through  US banks, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ).

The FOJ said the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating the individuals on suspicion of accepting bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and now.

Switzerland's justice ministry said in a statement: "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 (FIFA delegates) and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organisations - totaling more than $100 million."

The statement said the investigation includes allegations involving tournaments in Latin America and the US. One of those detained in Zurich was FIFA Vice-President and North American football association head Jeffrey Webb.

Others held include Costa Rica soccer federation president Eduardo Li, who was elected to FIFA's executive committee in March.

 

Zurich police said the detainees will be questioned and then  asked whether they are prepared to be extradited, Anyone who refuses will force the US to submit a formal extradition request within 40 days.