AsianFC
Today it became known that the Swiss police is carrying out a new series of arrests among the leadership of FIFA taking place these days in Zurich. In particular, they arrested the president of the Confederation of Football in North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) Alfredo Hawit and president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) Juan Ángel Napout.
The arrests are not related to the election of the country hosting the World Cup 2018 to be held in Russia. The official website of the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) reported that FIFA officials have been arrested on charges of taking bribes in the millions of dollars for the sale of marketing rights of football tournaments in South America and the World Series. The prosecution was put forward by the US authorities.
It is alleged that transactions fallen under suspicion were transferred through US banks. The officials were arrested to further be extradited to the United States. On Thursday, the Swiss authorities will hold a hearing on the prisoners’ extradition. If they do not agree to immediate extradition, the FOJ will ask the US authorities to provide formal extradition request in 40 days.
Meanwhile, the dismissed from any football-related activities of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and former secretary-general Jerome Valcke will not be arrested in Zurich, reports The New York Times.
In late May, it was reported that several high-ranking officials of FIFA in Zurich were arrested on charges of corruption. It happened on the eve of presidential elections in the organization.
Joseph Blatter had been head of FIFA since 1998. May 29, he was re-elected for a fifth term, and announced retirement from his post already on June 2 pushed by the grand corruption scandal. The Congress with elections for a new head of the organization should be held on February 26, 2016 in Zurich.
source: wsj.com
The arrests are not related to the election of the country hosting the World Cup 2018 to be held in Russia. The official website of the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) reported that FIFA officials have been arrested on charges of taking bribes in the millions of dollars for the sale of marketing rights of football tournaments in South America and the World Series. The prosecution was put forward by the US authorities.
It is alleged that transactions fallen under suspicion were transferred through US banks. The officials were arrested to further be extradited to the United States. On Thursday, the Swiss authorities will hold a hearing on the prisoners’ extradition. If they do not agree to immediate extradition, the FOJ will ask the US authorities to provide formal extradition request in 40 days.
Meanwhile, the dismissed from any football-related activities of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and former secretary-general Jerome Valcke will not be arrested in Zurich, reports The New York Times.
In late May, it was reported that several high-ranking officials of FIFA in Zurich were arrested on charges of corruption. It happened on the eve of presidential elections in the organization.
Joseph Blatter had been head of FIFA since 1998. May 29, he was re-elected for a fifth term, and announced retirement from his post already on June 2 pushed by the grand corruption scandal. The Congress with elections for a new head of the organization should be held on February 26, 2016 in Zurich.
source: wsj.com