Swiss law enforcement in Zurich has detained several high-ranking FIFA members and plans to extradite them to the United States, where they will face charges of corruption. The New York Times reported that more than a dozen uniformed Swiss officials arrived at the "Baur au Lac" hotel on Wednesday morning, where FIFA leaders gathered for their annual meeting.
It is believed that the detained FIFA members are accused of being involved in corruption scandals that have rocked the organization over the past 20 years. Among them are personal enrichment from television and commercial contracts, as well as the organization of the World Cup.
More than 10 FIFA members, including vice presidents Jeffrey Webb and Eugenio Figueredo, as well as former executive committee member Jack Warner, are charged with fraud, racketeering, and money laundering, according to the New York Times.
The Wall Street Journal reported that prosecutors plan to announce the charges in New York, where a press conference is planned by US Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and FBI Director James Comey.
The arrests took place just days before the FIFA presidential elections, which are scheduled for Friday. It is believed that Sepp Blatter should easily win them and secure his position for a fifth term. The name of the current FIFA president, S. Blatter, was not among those arrested.
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