FIFA Officials Arrested in Switzerland, Will Face Extradition to America

FIFA officials are arrested on corruption charges in Zurich, Switzerland.

Image via USA TODAY Sports/Mark J. Rebilas

Authorities in Zurich, Switzerland led an operation Wednesday morning that led to the arrest(s) of a number of "top soccer officials," who are now facing extradition to the United States on "federal corruption charges." The operation took place whilst FIFA gathered in a five-star hotel (the Baur au Lac) within the European nation for an annual meeting. These arrests were made at the behest of the U.S. Justice Department, and the charges for more than 10 officials (not all of whom were at the Zurich hotel) include: racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud. Reportedly, these charges date back for over two decades.

In case you're wondering (and odds are you are), FIFA President Sepp Blatter is not one of the "more than 10" people being charged. He is however facing an election for his fifth-term as the billion dollar organization's president. That almost-certainly-rigged-vote will take place on Friday.

Should be pretty interesting to see his reaction to this in the meantime.

[via New York Times]

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