The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), have reportedly been arrested in Zurich, Switzerland Wednesday morning local time.
At FIFA’s annual meeting at the Baur au Lac hotel, plain-clothed Swiss police arrested several FIFA officials, the New York Times reported.
Anonymous law enforcement personnel told the Times officials could face wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges from over two decades, resulting from a U.S. investigation.
FIFA officials were escorted out behind sheets at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich http://t.co/LCuxIyugth pic.twitter.com/1M8SuQMSUu
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 27, 2015
In a statement Wednesday, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said six soccer officials have been arrested, pending extradition to the U.S.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating the detained individuals for the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day, the FOJ said, with paid bribes possibly totaling more than $100 million.
More than 10 officials could face possible indictment, the newspaper wrote, including some not currently present in Switzerland.
Picture of plainclothes Swiss police showing documents to FIFA hotel clerk: pic.twitter.com/LVV8Ai9hxt
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) May 27, 2015
FIFA execs not being led out in handcuffs. Very peaceful. Hotel staff meanwhile is freaking out.
— Michael S. Schmidt (@MichaelSSchmidt) May 27, 2015
The accused reportedly include Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice president, Jeffrey Webb, a vice president of the executive committee and Eugenio Figueredo, who is also an executive committee vice president and former president of South America’s soccer association.
FIFA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“We’re struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did … It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business. It seems like this corruption was institutionalized,” a law enforcement official told the Times.
Swiss law enforcement getting room numbers for FIFA execs they are heading upstairs to arrest pic.twitter.com/F69djqpcu5
— Michael S. Schmidt (@MichaelSSchmidt) May 27, 2015
Hotel staff trying to use sheets to hide officials as they exit. pic.twitter.com/o0VFKuFnQi
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) May 27, 2015
The controversial longtime president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, is running to be re-elected on Friday. He is not said to be one of those arrested.
sources tell me sepp blatter is not among the fifa officials who are being arrested
— Michael S. Schmidt (@MichaelSSchmidt) May 27, 2015
FIFA has been accused multiple times of bribery and corruption in recent years. The allegedly flawed bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which will be held in Russia and Qatar respectively, have come under especial scrutiny. Hundreds of migrant workers have died as Qatar rushes to complete stadiums in time for 2022.
In 2014, former U.S. attorney Michael Garcia, who was appointed by FIFA to investigate corruption allegations, accused FIFA of releasing a cut-down and inaccurate version of his originally 350-page document.
United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and and F.B.I. Director James Comey are expected to hold a press conference on the matter in New York on Wednesday morning.
A press conference will be held at the home of FIFA at 11:00am CET this morning. It will be streamed live on http://t.co/sool5M7508. (1/2)
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) May 27, 2015