Six football officials were arrested and detained by
Swiss police on Wednesday pending extradition at the request of US authorities
after a raid at a luxury hotel in Zurich.
The officials are in Switzerland for the FIFA congress and presidential
election, where Sepp Blatter is widely expected to win a fifth term at the helm
of the governing body of world football.
Blatter was not among the men arrested, FIFA spokesman Walter de
Gregorio told the Associated Press, but vice president Jeffrey Webb was.
Blatter is scheduled to attend a meeting of the Confederation of African
Football at 10:30am local time in a different Zurich hotel.
JEFFREY WEBB
PROFILE
Jeffrey Webb, 50, is the president of CONCACAF, the North American
football confederation, and Vice-President of FIFA.
He is also the president of the Football Association of his native
Cayman Islands, role he first assumed in 1991.
Back in September 2014, Webb was one of the FIFA officials who called
for the publication of the Garcia Report into the allegations of corruption
surrounding Russia and Qatar's bids to hold the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in a statement that US
authorities suspect the six officials of having received or paid bribes
totalling millions and that the crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US,
and payments carried out via US banks.
The FOJ said the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New
York is investigating the individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes
and kick-backs between the early 1990s and now.
'The US authorities suspect them of having received bribes totalling in
the USD millions,' said the statement.
'The 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 officials -- delegates of FIFA and other functionaries
of FIFA sub-organizations -- totaling more than $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.
The statement said the detainees would be questioned by Zurich police
regarded the U.S. request.
'A simplified procedure will apply for wanted persons who agree to their
immediate extradition. The Federal Office of Justice (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.'
Corruption in FIFA
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