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FIFA

U.S. asks Swiss to extradite FIFA officials in bribery probe

Kim Hjelmgaard
USA TODAY
FIFA President Sepp Blatter announcing that South Africa would be hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup during an official ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 15, 2004. Blatter is due to step down from the role.

The United States asked Switzerland to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich in May on suspicion of taking bribes worth over 100 million dollars, Swiss authorities said Thursday.

The country's Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said the formal extradition requests were submitted on Wednesday evening by the U.S. Embassy in Bern acting on a request by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, which is handling the probe.

FIFA, world soccer's governing body, has been plagued by suspicions of corruption for years but successive allegations have failed to yield prosecutions.

The FOJ will hold a hearing on the request, likely over the next several weeks, before making a decision, the FOJ said. However, it cautioned that Switzerland's top court, the Federal Supreme Court, could ultimately challenge any ruling.

The seven people facing extradition — who are being held in a prison near Zurich — are among 14 people, nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives, U.S. law officials have already charged with wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

"The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States," Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in late May, announcing the charges.

"It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks,' she said.

The alleged transgressions are thought to have been carried out using U.S. banks, which is what has allowed U.S. authorities take a leading role in the probe.

Jeffrey Webb, a FIFA vice-president responsible for North and Central America, is among those indicted.

Meanwhile, longtime FIFA President Sepp Blatter, 79, is stepping down from his role as the investigation has widened.

U.S. officials have said Blatter is also a target of the investigation, although he has not been accused of any crime and maintains he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

FIFA has not commented on the development.

The international association is currently hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

The U.S. will face Japan in the final on Sunday after England dramatically crashed out of the semifinal Wednesday with an own-goal.

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