Nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives have been indicted for allegations of racketeering, money laundering and corruption involving more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks. Among the 14 defendants are Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner, the current and former presidents of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football. According to the Department of Justice, FIFA officials received bribes and kickbacks in connection with the selection of the host country for the 2010 World Cup and 2011 FIFA presidential election, among other schemes. The indictment charges the defendants with offenses that span 24 years. FBI director James Comey said in a statement, ‘As charged in the indictment, the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world. Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA.’ Seven defendants were arrested at a hotel in Zurich early Wednesday morning. Four individuals and two corporate defendants have already plead guilty. Swiss bank accounts for seven FIFA officials have also been frozen.
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