Fifa corruption arrests: Six senior executives including vice president Jeffrey Webb to face US federal charges after raid on Switzerland hotel
Charges relate to alleged corruption over the last two decades
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Six high-ranking Fifa officials have been arrested in Switzerland on corruption charges and are awaiting extradition to the US. Fifa vice president Jeffrey Webb is believed to be among them.
Swiss police carried out the early morning raid at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, escorting the executives out peacefully.
In a statement, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said the US charges related to alleged widespread corruption in Fifa over three decades worth more than $100 million.
The New York Times reported the charges as including wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering, and named the 14 indicted Fifa officials.
Among the officials, not all of whom were in Zurich, were Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, president of Concacaf.
The executives were in Switzerland for an election on Friday, when Fifa president Sepp Blatter is expected to be elected for a fifth term. Mr Blatter is not understood to be one of the executives charged.
The head of Ireland’s Football Association said yesterday that he would not be backing Mr Blatter in Friday’s election.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.