9 FIFA officials, 5 Executives Indicted On Corruption Charges –US Dept Of Justice

FIFA HQ raided, electronic data and other docs seized. (Image rights: The New York Times)

As FIFA leaders gathered for a meeting in Zurich on Wednesday, Swiss law enforcement officials arrived at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel unannounced to arrest some of highest-ranking soccer officials in the world, at the request of the United States Department of Justice.

The New York Times reports:

What’s the Latest

• An indictment was unsealed early Wednesday morning in federal court in Brooklyn charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offenses.

• The indictment says that bribes and kickbacks were found in connection with the selection of the host country for the 2010 World Cup.

• Chuck Blazer, the former FIFA executive committee member from the United States, cooperated with investigators. (In a comprehensive article in November, The Daily News outlined Mr. Blazer’s involvement.)

• FIFA is hold a news conference in Zurich at 11 a.m. local time, 5 a.m. Eastern.

• United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, who took office last month, and F.B.I. Director James Comey are scheduled to hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning in Brooklyn.

• Swiss federal prosecutors opened criminal proceedings related to the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, according to several news reports.

• The Swiss police approached Issa Hayatou, the president of the African soccer confederation, at the hotel and requested that he come in for questioning. According to a high-ranking soccer official who witnessed the exchange, Mr. Hayatou asked if he was being arrested; when told that he was not, he told the officers that he would not go with them and that if they wanted to arrest him they should do so in front of his colleagues at the African confederation meeting later Wednesday morning.

Who Was Charged?

Jeffrey Webb: President of CONCACAF, one of the six regional confederations that compose FIFA, and vice president of FIFA

Jack Warner: Former president of CONCACAF and vice president of FIFA

Eugenio Figueredo: Former president of CONMEBOL, the South American federation, and outgoing FIFA vice president

Eduardo Li: President of Costa Rican federation, set to join FIFA executive committee this week

Julio Rocha: President of Nicaraguan association

Costas Takkas: Former president of Cayman Islands federation

Rafael Esquivel: President of Venezuelan association since 1988

José Maria Marin: Former president of Brazil’s federation

Nicolás Leoz: Former president of CONMEBOL and former member of FIFA executive committee

Alejandro Burzaco: Argentine sports media executive

Aaron Davidson: President of Traffic Sports USA — a promoter of soccer events — and chairman of the board of North American Soccer League

Hugo Jinkis: Soccer media executive

Mariano Jinkis: Soccer media executive

José Margulies: Charged as intermediary who facilitated illegal payments

What About Sepp Blatter?

Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA since 1998, was not charged, though the soccer officials who were indicted might present prosecutors with information that is damaging to Mr. Blatter. An election, seemingly pre-ordained to give Mr. Blatter a fifth term as president, is scheduled for Friday in Zurich.

How Did U.S. Officials Do This on Foreign Soil?

United States law gives the Justice Department wide authority to bring cases against foreign nationals living abroad, an authority that prosecutors have used repeatedly in international terrorism cases. Those cases can hinge on the slightest connection to the United States, like the use of an American bank or Internet service provider.

Switzerland’s treaty with the United States is unusual in that it gives Swiss authorities the power to refuse extradition for tax crimes, but on matters of general criminal law, the Swiss have agreed to turn people over for prosecution in American courts.

What’s Next?

• The extradition process begins in Switzerland. In a statement released Wednesday morning, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice explained its protocols: “A simplified procedure will apply for wanted persons who agree to their immediate extradition. The F.O.J. can immediately approve their extradition to the U.S. and order its execution. However, if a wanted person opposes their extradition, the F.O.J. will invite the U.S. to submit a formal extradition request within the deadline of 40 days specified in the bilateral extradition treaty.”

• More details of the investigation may be revealed at the news conference in New York.