Two criminal investigations into corruption at football’s world governing body FIFA are under way, with seven senior officials arrested in Zurich on United States charges.
Separately, Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal case into the bids for the 2018 and 2022 world Cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively, the BBC reports.
The seven are among 14 indicted on corruption charges, U.S authorities said.
FIFA said it plans to go ahead with elections for president on Friday.
Incumbent president Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term, was not one of the seven high-ranking officials arrested.
FIFA also said on Wednesday there would be no rerun of the World Cup bidding processes which saw Russia awarded the tournament in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, despite the Swiss inquiry.
Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan – Mr. Blatter’s rival for the FIFA presidency – described the arrests as “a sad day for football.”
FIFA’s Zurich headquarters has also been raided, with electronic data and documents seized.
The U.S justice department said 14 individuals were under investigation worldwide, including high-ranking FIFA officials, for allegedly accepting bribes and kickbacks worth $150m (£97m) over a 24-year period. They include:
Jeffrey Webb – head of the confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean, CONCACAF, and FIFA vice-president
Jack Warner, former FIFA vice-president and former CONCACAF president
Costa Rica’s national football chief, Eduardo Li, who was due to join FIFA’s executive committee on Friday
Uruguay’s Eugenio Figueredo, president of South American football governing body, CONMEBOL
Brazil’s Jose Maria Marin, a member of FIFAs club committee
Seven of those under investigation were arrested in a police operation at a five-star hotel in Zurich earlier on Wednesday. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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