Newtype Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 ZURICH — Swiss authorities began an extraordinary early-morning operation here Wednesday to arrest several top soccer officials and extradite them to the United States on federal corruption charges. As leaders of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, gathered for their annual meeting, Swiss law enforcement officials arrived unannounced at the Baur au Lac hotel, an elegant five-star property with views of the Alps and Lake Zurich. The arrests were made at the request of the United States Justice Department, which brought charges in the Eastern District of New York, based in Brooklyn, according to law enforcement officials. Prosecutors planned to unseal an indictment soon against more than 10 officials, not all of whom are in Zurich, three law enforcement officials said. The charges include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering. The arrests were a startling blow to FIFA, a multibillion-dollar organization that governs the world’s most popular sport but has been plagued by accusations of bribery for decades. The inquiry is also a major threat to Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president who is generally recognized as the most powerful person in sports, though law enforcement officials said he was not charged. An election, seemingly pre-ordained to give him a fifth term as president, is scheduled for Friday. The case is the most significant yet for United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, who took office last month. She previously served as the United States attorney in Brooklyn, where she supervised the FIFA investigation. More at the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da Cap'n 2099 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Bout damn time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alive she cried Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 This is a great day for football. I only hope that it doesn't stop here. We need to tear the whole Federation down and rebuild again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hakujin Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Does this mean they won't have the next World Cup in Qatar after all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alive she cried Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 The 2018 tournament will be held in Russia and 2022 is set for Qatar. FIFA are officially saying that the competitions will still go ahead (and no evidence has been released yet to link these bids with bribes). But a lot of experts think different. I hope, more than I think it will be changed though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hakujin Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 The investigation began Jennifer Lawrence ago. Don't leave us Jon Stewart! <div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/">The Daily Show</a></b><br/>Get More: <a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/full-episodes/">Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow">The Daily Show on Facebook</a>,<a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos">Daily Show Video Archive</a></p></div></div> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 FIFA President Blatter to Resign, will hold new elections surely the NFL is next, surely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hakujin Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 I'm eager to see John Oliver's take this Sunday on the resignation of the "Swiss demon who has ruined" the sport he loves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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