FIFA's independent ethics committee has confirmed that it is investigating one of its own members.
The recent 'Panama Papers' leak has alerted FIFA to an alleged link between Uruguayan lawyer Juan Pedro Damiani and compatriot Eugenio Figueredo, a former FIFA vice-president.
Figueredo was one of the seven FIFA officials arrested by US authorities in May 2015 after being accused of receiving millions of dollars' worth of bribes.
"We confirm that on March 19 the investigatory chamber of the independent ethics committee was informed by the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber, Hans-Joachim Eckert, about becoming recently aware of a business relationship between the member of the adjudicatory chamber Juan Pedro Damiani, and Eugenio Figueredo," read a FIFA statement.
"After receiving the information Dr Cornel Borbely, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee, has immediately opened a preliminary investigation to review the allegations in question.
"Dr Borbely is currently looking into said allegations in order to determine if there is a breach against the FIFA code of ethics and decide any further measures."
Figueredo was formerly the president of the South American confederation CONMEBOL.
Barney Corkhill
