Switzerland Begins FIFA World Cup 2018, 2022 Criminal Proceedings

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Swiss Office of the Attorney General said in a statement that they had opened criminal proceedings against FIFA officials on suspicion of mismanagement and money laundering tied to winning the hosts bids of the World Cup 2018 and 2022.

Switzerland authorities said in Wednesday that criminal proceedings against high-ranked FIFA officials on suspicion of corruption and bribery had been opened.

Switzerland's Office of the Attorney General also said in a statement that police had seized documents and data during a raid of FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter - Sputnik International
FIFA Arrests Tied to World Cup 2022 Bid in Qatar - Source
Earlier in the day, several FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, and could face extradition to the United States on federal corruption charges, including fraud, racketeering, money laundering, as well as corruption in marketing and broadcasting deals over the last 20 years.

"Everything that’s happening in Zurich is first and foremost tied with the choices of hosting World Cup-2022 and how Qatar won the football festivities," the source said.

He said that the final decision to arrest the officials and conduct searches was made by the United States and practically does not concern Russia’s host bid for 2018.

Highly-ranked FIFA officials arrested for corruption are charged with receiving over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks, the US Justice Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

"All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments," the statement said.

FBI head James Comey said in a statement that the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed.

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