Criminal proceedings opened over allocation of 2018, 2022 World Cups

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice has announced that they have opened criminal proceedings in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The investigators have confirmed that they are now questioning 10 FIFA executives who took part in voting on the two World Cup bids.

The 22-member FIFA Executive Committee convened in Zurich in December 2010 to vote for the hosts of both tournaments, with Russia winning the right to be the 2018 host, while Qatar were awarded the 2022 tournament.

The announcement comes just hours after several FIFA officials were arrested on suspicion of corruption.

"Criminal proceedings have opened against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups," the Swiss attorney general said in a statement.

Electronic data and documents have been seized from FIFA's head office in Zurich.