“We’re struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did,” a law enforcement official told the newspaper.
Prosecutors say that widespread corruption in FIFA over the last two decades is in question on World Cup host bids, as well as marketing and broadcasting deals. Prosecutors have also made accusations of fraud, racketeering and money laundering.
“It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business. It seems like this corruption was institutionalized,” The New York Times quoted the law enforcer as saying.
CNN reported that up to 14 people are expected to be charged.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter was not among the organization’s officials against whom the corruption charges were brought.
The incident took place two days before the governing football body president election set to take place on May 29, with Blatter running for a fifth term.
