Copa America 2016 to go ahead despite FIFA arrests, insist US Soccer

CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit and CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout were arrested in Zurich prior to the FIFA Executive Committee's briefing on its plans to implement reform within the organisation.

Published : Jan 05, 2016 13:57 IST

Alfredo Hawit
Alfredo Hawit
lightbox-info

Alfredo Hawit

US Soccer confirmed on Thursday that the 2016 Copa America Centenario will go ahead as planned despite the latest arrests in the FIFA corruption scandal.

CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit and CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout were arrested in Zurich prior to the FIFA Executive Committee's briefing on its plans to implement reform within the organisation.

The US attorney general later confirmed that 16 individuals had been charged with corruption as part of its investigation into football's governing body.

However, US Soccer has made it clear that the tournament will take place as planned from June 3 to June 26 across 10 American venues, despite Hawit's arrest, insisting there are "rigorous safeguards" in place despite the turmoil.

Their statement read: "Today's events involving individual members of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL in no way pierce the integrity of the rigorous safeguards the United States Soccer Federation required before agreeing to host Copa America Centenario that ensure the tournament is organised and conducted in a way that is open, transparent and above reproach.

"The new Executive Committee that was created to govern the tournament does not include these individuals and they were never in a position to make decisions that would adversely impact those high standards.

"As the LOC for the tournament, the United States Soccer Federation remains fully focused on the organisation and operation of Copa America Centenario, and conducting the tournament in the most professional and highly principled manner possible."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment