WORLD
Fifa in crisis amid corruption arrests and World Cup voting inquiry – as it happened
Baku, May 29, AZERTAC
Senior Fifa officials face extradition from Switzerland to the US on federal corruption charges, while Swiss authorities launch criminal proceedings related to the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The world governing body of football, Fifa, is facing an unprecedented crisis on the eve of its congress in Zurich after Swiss authorities arrested a string of officials on corruption charges and opened criminal proceedings over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Incumbent Sepp Blatter is standing for re-election to the FIFA presidency against Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein.
Earlier on Wednesday, seven of the most powerful figures in global soccer faced extradition to the United States on corruption charges after their arrest in Switzerland.
The Swiss authorities also announced a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups being hosted in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
U.S. authorities said nine soccer officials and five sports media and promotions executives faced corruption charges involving more than $150 million in bribes.