FIFA officials arrested on corruption charges will be extradited to the US
The Times, citing anonymous law enforcement officials, said the U.S. federal charges include racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud and span two decades of misconduct in soccer's world governing body.
More than 10 officials were expected to be indicted, the newspaper reported.
The officials are in Zurich for the FIFA Congress where incumbent Sepp Blatter faces a challenge from Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein in a presidential election on Friday.
The Federal Office of Justice in Switzerland said in a statement early Wednesday that the US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District in New York is investigating several officials "on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day."
That investgation involves schemes to pay FIFA officials and " other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations more than $100 million."
The FOJ says, in return, those various individuals and entities at the center of the investigation received "media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America." The state continues, saying "these crimes were agreed and prepared in the US, and payments were carried out via US banks."
Here is the full FOJ statement:
Bern. By order of the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), six soccer officials were arrested in Zurich today (Wednesday) and detained pending extradition. The US authorities suspect them of having received or paid bribes totaling in the USD millions.
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 (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations - totaling more than USD 100 million. 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.
Questioning of detainees
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.