Fresh arrests made in FIFA corruption scandal

Switzerland’s justice ministry has announced the arrest of two FIFA officials at the request of US authorities in a widening bribery case. 

Police made the arrests on Thursday at the luxury Baur au Lac hotel in downtown Zurich, the scene of raids in May that sparked the crisis. 

The ministry says the two men, which it did not identify, are “suspected of accepting bribes of millions of dollars”.

The arrests were made ahead of a FIFA executive committee meeting at 08:00 GMT.

The bribes are linked to marketing rights for football tournaments in Latin America and World Cup qualifying matches, the ministry’s statement said.

The US Department of Justice has previously indicted two FIFA vice presidents among 14 football and marketing officials linked to bribes worth tens of millions of dollars for the Copa America tournament.

The organisation’s awarding of World Cup tournaments to Germany, Russia, and Qatar have been subject to scrutiny and charges of corruption.

Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter also faces a criminal investigation in Switzerland over a $2.1m payment from FIFA to UEFA chief Michel Platini. Both men have denied wrongdoing.

FIFA’s ethics committee says it completed its investigation into the conduct of the men and has requested sanctions against both of them.