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(27 May 2015) Associated Press sports writer Ron Blum says a climate of corruption led to the arrest of seven soccer officials in a wide-sweeping FIFA scandal. Four other soccer and marketing officials agreed to plead guilty.
Prosecutors allege FIFA executives used their positions within their respective organizations to solicit bribes from sports marketers in exchange for the commercial rights to their soccer tournaments.
American prosecutors said they will seek extradition forfeiture of more than $151 million the government alleges was illegally obtained.
Blum explains the indictment "has been expected for several years."
"Ever since CONCACAF issued a report going into the misdeeds of Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer, its top officials for many decades, said Blum. "That report came out several years ago and we've heard about the investigation being ongoing."
The seven soccer officials arrested are connected with CONCACAF or CONMEBOL, South America's governing body. Each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The Swiss justice ministry said six of the seven officials arrested oppose extradition to the United States, adding that U.S. authorities now have 40 days to submit the formal extradition request.
Four of the men indicted are sports marketing executives and another works in broadcasting. Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice president from Trinidad and Tobago, was among those indicted.
The case involves bribes totaling more than $100 million linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s for soccer tournaments in the U.S. and Latin America, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said.
All seven of the arrested are connected with the regional confederations of North and South America and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
FIFA suspended 11 people from all soccer-related activities following the U.S. announcement.
"Soccer has this image of having a culture where its leaders have their hands out looking for cash in a brown envelope," said Blum.

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