For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
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.
Key players in the Qatar World Cup bid controversy
Show all 5
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.