Nary a meeting of top FIFA officials seems to go by without more of them ending up in handcuffs.
Acting on behalf of the United States Department of Justice, Swiss authorities on Thursday morning arrested a number of FIFA officials at the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich, The New York Times’ Sam Borden, Rebecca R. Ruiz and Matt Apuzzo report. Swiss police took action in between the first and second days of meetings of FIFA’s powerful Executive Committee, which was set to discuss reform proposals to submit to FIFA’s congress for ratification in February.
The U.S. Dept. of Justice will hold a press conference Thursday to announce indictments and other specifics in the new round of arrests.
FIFA issued a short statement on its website following the arrests.
“FIFA is aware of the actions taken today by the U.S. Department of Justice,” the statement says. “FIFA will continue to cooperate fully with the U.S. investigation as permitted by Swiss law, as well as with the investigation being led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General. FIFA will have no further comment on today’s developments.”
Swiss police are expected to detain 16 people. Among those already in custody are CONCACAF President Alfredo Hawit and COMNEBOL President Juan Ángel Napout. Those arrested likely will face the prospect of extradition to the U.S. where they will have to answer charges in federal court.
Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter isn’t believed to be included among the new round of arrests.
The Baur au Lac Hotel is the same facility at which several soccer officials and sports marketing executives were arrested in May on charges of corruption and rackateering.
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Thumbnail photo via Walter Bieri/Keystone/The Associated Press
