MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Stevens noted that some of the arrested FIFA officials were US nationals, who are accused of breaking US laws on corruption and money laundering, while no Russian citizens had been indicted in the case.
"First, this case is not about Russia. In fact, the word Russia does not appear anywhere in the seven page Department of Justice press release issued yesterday," US embassy's spokesman Will Stevens said in a statement.
FIFA case is "very complicated and involves a lot of people," Stevens added.
My thoughts on #FIFAarrests 1. It's not about Russia 2. It's about #corruption Read more here https://t.co/PsiwQH3A0G pic.twitter.com/R4rMNBA4Rw
— Will Stevens (@WBStevens) 28 мая 2015
Moreover, as the indictment points out, "most of the schemes alleged in the indictment relate to the solicitation and receipt of bribes and kickbacks by soccer officials from sports marketing executives in connection with the commercialization of the media and marketing rights associated with various soccer matches and tournaments," mostly in North or South America, Stevens said.
"Those involved are accused of exchanging or agreeing to exchange more than $150 million in bribes."
Other international partners are involved in the investigation over FIFA corruption as well, while the Swiss government is also pursuing a case against some FIFA officials, the spokesman said.
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday that FIFA corruption "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. And it has profoundly harmed a multitude of victims, from the youth leagues and developing countries that should benefit from the revenue generated by the commercial rights these organizations hold, to the fans at home and throughout the world whose support for the game makes those rights valuable."
