FIFA officials arrested in corruption probe

Officials from FIFA, soccer's world governing body, were arrested Wednesday in Switzerland and are expected to be extradited to the United States on charges of corruption.

FIFA, in a statement Wednesday, said it is cooperating with Swiss authorities.

The organization has been accused of bribery for decades, particularly as it relates to the bidding process for its biggest event -- the World Cup.

"FIFA welcomes actions that can help contribute to rooting out any wrongdoing in football," the statement read Wednesday. "We understand that today's actions by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice on behalf of the U.S. authorities and the Swiss Office of the Attorney General (initiated by FIFA through the submission of the file on the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process) relate to different matters."

According to the New York Times, which cites the Department of Justice indictment, 14 people -- not all FIFA officials -- will face charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Sports marketing executives from the U.S. and South America are also part of the indictment, accused of bribery in exchange for media contracts with soccer tournaments.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is reportedly not among those being charged.

According to the FIFA release, the arrests were in relation to activities carried out in relation with soccer federations in South America (CONMEBOL) and North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF), as well as for the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.

"Today, the Swiss Office of the Attorney General announced that it has opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown in relation to the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process," FIFA's statement continued. "FIFA is fully cooperating with the investigation and is supporting the collection of evidence in this regard. As noted by the Swiss authorities, this collection of evidence is being carried out on a cooperative basis."

FIFA has still scheduled a presidential election for Friday, at which time Blatter is expected to receive a fifth term.

[SportsNetwork.com]