News / Sports

Six top FIFA authorities arrested over corruption

Wednesday, 27 May 2015 8:33 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 27 May 2015 8:33 AM ]

The media gathers outside the Hotel Baur-au-Lac in the Swiss city of Zurich, where police arrested six FIFA officials on corruption charges on May 27, 2015. (© AFP)

Six top soccer officials, suspected of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars, have been detained by Swiss police at the request of US officials.

The high-ranking officials of the world football governing body, FIFA, were arrested on Wednesday after a raid at a luxury hotel in the Swiss city of Zurich.

“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 - ... totaling more than $100 million,” the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a Wednesday statement.

“In return, it is believed that they received media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America,” it added.

The statement said the crimes were organized in the US, and the bribes were paid via US banks.

The accusations pose a major challenge to FIFA at a time that its head, Sepp Blatter, seeks to secure a fifth term in a Friday vote.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter gestures during an interview in the Swiss city of Zurich, May 15, 2015. (© AFP)

Blatter, however, is not involved in the recent graft case, according to FIFA spokesman Walter de Gregorio. “He is not involved at all.”

De Gregorio also said that the world body will hold a press conference at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) in Zurich regarding the arrests, which would be streamed live on the FIFA website.

Moreover, FIFA announced it was seeking to make the situation clear.

“We have seen the media reports. We are seeking to clarify the situation. We will not comment at this stage,” a FIFA spokeswoman told AFP following the news of the arrests.

MSM/HJL/HRB

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk