US anticipates further criminal charges in soccer corruption probe – Fox News

Sept. 14, 2015: U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch attends a news conference on Swiss criminal proceedings. (Reuters)

U.S. authorities have expanded their investigations into corruption within global soccer and expect to file additional criminal charges, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Monday.

As part of a separate Swiss investigation, Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber said his office had seized property and flats in the Swiss Alps in connection with its probe of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body.

The developments are the latest in the worst crisis in FIFA’s 111-year
history, which broke open with the arrest of seven senior FIFA
officials over corruption accusations in Zurich in May.

“What I can say is that, separate and apart from the pending indictment, our investigation remains active and ongoing, and has in fact expanded since May,” Lynch said at a news conference alongside Lauber.

“Based upon that cooperation (with Swiss authorities) and new evidence, we do anticipate pursuing additional charges against individuals and entities,” Lynch said.

Lauber said the Swiss investigation had not yet reached the half-way mark.

The United States has indicted nine soccer officials and five executives, charging them with racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud for orchestrating multi-million dollar bribery schemes over 24 years.

Separate to this, Swiss authorities launched an investigation into whether corruption was a factor in Russia and Qatar’s successful bids to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA Pesident Sepp Blatter has not been accused of wrongdoing by Swiss or U.S. authorities, but sources have said the FBI is examining his stewardship of the organization.