Six FIFA officials have been arrested in Zurich this morning on suspicion of accepting bribes, including Vice-President Jeffrey Webb.
The dawn raids occurred only two days before the FIFA presidential elections on Friday, but current President Sepp Blatter is not amongst those arrested.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said that they were taken ‘on suspicion of accepting bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day’ worth ‘more than $100m’.
Six FIFA officials have been arrested in Zurich this morning on suspicion of accepting bribes, including Vice-President Jeffrey Webb.
The dawn raids occurred only two days before the FIFA presidential elections on Friday, but current President Sepp Blatter is not amongst those arrested.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said that they were taken ‘on suspicion of accepting bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day’ worth ‘more than $100m’.
It is being widely reported that Webb [pictured] is among those being held by police for suspicion of suspecting bribes.
Webb is the head of the North America, Central America and Caribbean football federation and has been hailed by Blatter as a possible presidential successor.
Others taken away during the dawn raids at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich include Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay and Brazilian FA deputy head Jose Maria Marin.
Although Swiss authorities said six officials were arrested, the New York Times has reported that 14 officials had been charged on the U.S indictment.
The USA has brought the charges due to the fact that the plots were alleged to have been hatched on U.S territory.
The alleged bribes are believed to be linked to media, marketing and sponsorship rights for football tournaments in the USA and Latin America.