Sixteen more charged in FIFA corruption probe

The Department of Justice, centred in Washington, has released a document detailing current and former FIFA officials who are accused of being involved "in criminal schemes involving well over $200million in bribes and kickbacks".

Alfredo Hawit

United States officials have charged 16 more individuals as part of their investigation into corruption within FIFA.

The Department of Justice, centred in Washington, has released a document detailing current and former FIFA officials who are accused of being involved "in criminal schemes involving well over $200million in bribes and kickbacks".

The news follows the arrests of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL presidents Alfredo Hawit and Juan Angel Napou in Zurich on suspicion of accepting bribes worth millions of dollars.

US attorney general Loretta Lynch confirmed the news at a press briefing on Thursday. "We stated our determination to root out corruption and bring the wrong-doers to justice and hold the corrupt individuals accountable," she said.

"Each of the 16 new defendants is charged with racketeering conspiracy and sustained abuse of their positions to achieve financial gain. "We are working to secure the arrest and extradition of further defendants in other countries."

Acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou, speaking as the Executive Committee unveiled its plans for reform within world football's governing body, pledged the organisation will co-operate fully with the investigation. "The events that have taken place this morning underscore the necessity to complete a full programme of reform for FIFA," he said.

"A great step has been taken in this sense as the ExCo have approved a series of proposals put forward by the Reform Committee. The proposals are the roadmap of a radical reform of the governance of FIFA and its operations and procedures. The reforms are clear and mark the beginning of a change of culture in FIFA and these proposals will now be put forward."