AP, Zurich :
Two FIFA vice presidents were arrested Thursday on suspicion of bribery as the U.S. Department of Justice struck again at the heart of soccer’s scandal-hit governing body.
Swiss federal police led away Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay and Alfredo Hawit of Honduras in a pre-dawn raid at the luxury Baur au Lac hotel in downtown Zurich, the same place where arrests on May 27 sparked the FIFA corruption crisis.
Their arrests marred a day FIFA hoped would be a milestone in rebuilding its image as the widely discredited executive committee – minus its two most senior Latin American officials – agreed to reforms designed to protect it from corrupt officials.
More South American soccer officials were expected to be named later Thursday by the DOJ in a second wave of charges following an indictment in May which alleged a racketeering conspiracy among FIFA officials.
Napout and Hawit have opposed their extradition to the United States at Zurich police hearings, Switzerland’s justice ministry said in a statement.
“According to the U.S. arrest requests, they are suspected of accepting bribes of millions of dollars,” the justice ministry said. “Some of the offences were agreed and prepared in the USA. Payments were also processed via U.S. banks.”
The bribes are linked to marketing rights for the Copa America – including the 2016 edition hosted in the U.S. – and World Cup qualifying matches.
Two FIFA vice presidents were arrested Thursday on suspicion of bribery as the U.S. Department of Justice struck again at the heart of soccer’s scandal-hit governing body.
Swiss federal police led away Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay and Alfredo Hawit of Honduras in a pre-dawn raid at the luxury Baur au Lac hotel in downtown Zurich, the same place where arrests on May 27 sparked the FIFA corruption crisis.
Their arrests marred a day FIFA hoped would be a milestone in rebuilding its image as the widely discredited executive committee – minus its two most senior Latin American officials – agreed to reforms designed to protect it from corrupt officials.
More South American soccer officials were expected to be named later Thursday by the DOJ in a second wave of charges following an indictment in May which alleged a racketeering conspiracy among FIFA officials.
Napout and Hawit have opposed their extradition to the United States at Zurich police hearings, Switzerland’s justice ministry said in a statement.
“According to the U.S. arrest requests, they are suspected of accepting bribes of millions of dollars,” the justice ministry said. “Some of the offences were agreed and prepared in the USA. Payments were also processed via U.S. banks.”
The bribes are linked to marketing rights for the Copa America – including the 2016 edition hosted in the U.S. – and World Cup qualifying matches.
