Millions frozen in FIFA’s bank accounts

Millions of Swiss francs related to world football’s governing body FIFA have been frozen by the Swiss Justice Ministry, a spokesman has confirmed.

FIFA is suffering the worst corruption scandal in its more than 100-year history, with 41 entities and people including football bosses from throughout the Americas charged by US prosecutors, and FIFA President Sepp Blatter suspended from his post pending a full investigation.

“US authorities asked for documents related to 50 accounts at different banks, through which corruption money is supposed to have transited,” Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli said, confirming a report by Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.

According to media reports, between 50m and 100m Swiss francs ($50.1m and $100.2m) have been frozen.

In a statement, Galli said a “high double-digit million amount” had been frozen after the US request to authorities in Switzerland, where FIFA is based.

Blatter, meanwhile, appeared before FIFA’s ethics committee in a case that could end with him banned from the sport for years.

Blatter was suspended on October 8 from all football-related activity for 90 days alongside UEFA chief Michel Platini pending a full investigation into their conduct.

The FIFA ethics inquiry followed the Swiss attorney general office’s decision to open criminal proceedings against Blatter over a $2m payment to Platini in 2011.

Blatter and Platini have both denied wrongdoing.

Platini, who had intended to run for the FIFA presidency, was due to be heard by the committee on Friday but has refused to attend, saying the process against him is purely political.