6 FIFA officials arrested on corruption charges

The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police confirmed on Wednesday the arrest of six senior officials from FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, in Zurich over charges of corruption.

The Swiss authorities indicated they intend to send those arrested to the United States, which has an extradition treaty with Switzerland, to stand trial in New York where a prosecutor accuses them of accepting bribes from the early 1990s on.

«The U.S. authorities suspect the six arrested officials of having received or paid bribes totaling millions of dollars,» the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in a statement.

Those detained were in Zurich for activities at FIFA’s world headquarters prior to the organization’s congress on Friday, at which it will elect its president for the next four years.

It had been taken for granted that Sepp Blatter would be re-elected for a fifth term, but Wednesday’s events may change that.

Zurich police officers in plainclothes descended on a luxury hotel in Zurich at dawn, presented the relevant court orders, and received keys to the suspected officials’ rooms.

The six detained FIFA members will be questioned later on Wednesday by police from Zurich.

According to a note from the Federal Office of Justice, the bribery suspects, representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms, are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to soccer functionaries (FIFA delegates) and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations worth 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,» the statement added.

According to the U.S. extradition request, these crimes were agreed and prepared in the United States, and payments were made through U.S. banks.

The Swiss Ministry of Justice and Police said a simplified procedure will apply to suspects who agree to immediate extradition.

In their case Swiss authorities can immediately approve extradition to the United States and order its execution.

However, if the wanted persons oppose their extradition, the Swiss will invite the United States to submit a formal extradition request within a 40 day deadline.