The Swiss Federal Office of Justice has confirmed that six football officials have been arrested on allegations of bribery totalling $100m (£64.8m) and are facing extradition to the United States.
This morning, the New York Times reported that an early-morning raid by more than a dozen plainclothes police officers took place at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich.
The six individuals, one of whom is believed to be FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, are alleged to have received or paid millions in bribes from the 1990s to the present day.
A statement from the Swiss authorities read: "By order of the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), six soccer officials were arrested in Zurich today (Wednesday) and detained pending extradition. The US authorities suspect them of having received bribes totaling in the USD millions.
"The six soccer functionaries were arrested today in Zurich by the Zurich Cantonal Police. The FOJ's arrest warrants were issued further to a request by the US authorities. The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating these individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day.
"The bribery suspects - representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms - are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to the soccer functionaries - delegates of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations - totalling more than USD 100 million.
"In return, it is believed that they received media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America. According to the US request, these crimes were agreed and prepared in the US, and payments were carried out via US banks."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is widely expected to be re-elected for a fifth term on Friday, is not believed to be included in the arrests, which are in relation to an investigation into alleged bribery, corruption and racketeering.
Danielle Joynson
