FIFA executives arrested over fraud and corruption charges
World football's governing body, FIFA, is facing an unprecedented crisis after six of its high-ranking officials were arrested this morning and an inquiry was launched into the voting processes of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Just hours before the opening of the annual FIFA Congress in Zurich, Swiss police swooped to detain 14 people – including FIFA’s vice president – with some pending extradition to the US.
Swiss prosecutors – acting in partnership with the US Department of Justice (USDJ) – also raided Fifa's headquarters in Zurich, seizing documents and data.
The US Department of Justice named the six FIFA executives – and seven others connected to FIFA – who have been indicted for racketeering, conspiracy and corruption. They are:
Jeffrey Webb: Current Fifa vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president and head of FIFA’s internal audit committee
Eduardo Li: Current FIFA executive committee member-elect and Costa Rican soccer federation (FEDEFUT) president
Julio Rocha: Current FIFA development officer and Nicaraguan soccer federation (FENIFUT) president
Costas Takkas: Current attaché to the CONCACAF president.
Jack Warner: Former FIFA vice president and executive committee member
Eugenio Figueredo: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member and Uruguayan soccer federation (AUF) president.
Rafael Esquivel: Current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation (FVF) president
José Maria Marin: Current member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments
Nicolás Leoz: Former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president
In addition, four sports marketing executives have been named in the charges.
In a press conference this morning, FIFA spokesperson Walter De Gregorio attempted to play down the arrests, describing the arrests as a “good thing”.
“This for FIFA is good,” he said. “It is not good in terms of image or reputation, but in terms of cleaning up, this is good. It is not a nice day, but it is also a good day. The process goes on and we are looking forward.”
De Gregorio insisted that the FIFA Congress planned for the weekend and the vote for the FIFA president – set to take place on Friday 29 May – will “go ahead as normal”.
He also made efforts to refute calls to reconsider the decision to give the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.
De Gregorio said the tournaments in 2018 and 2022 would “certainly” be played in their current host countries, despite the Swiss Police’s investigation into possible irregularities in the voting process.
When pressed on how FIFA could possibly preempt an official investigation into the voting, however, De Gregorio seemed exasperated and appeared to admit that the Russian and Qatari World Cups might be in jeopardy.
“What do you expect me to say,” De Gregorio quipped, and added: "Russia and Qatar will be played, this is fact today. I can't go into speculation about what will happen tomorrow."
Fifa agrees £142m compensation deal for clubs releasing World Cup players
Three candidates to challenge Blatter’s throne at FIFA
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Why shouldn’t sports facilities be beautiful? Across Asia, architects are creating landmark buildings for the public, discovers Christopher de Wolf