Swiss authorities conducted an early-morning operation on Wednesday, arresting several top soccer officials and extraditing them to the United States on federal corruption charges. Backed by an F.B.I. investigation, the charges span more than 20 years and involve bids for World Cups, marketing and broadcast deals.
The arrests were carried out peacefully. Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, without handcuffs, was even able to bring his luggage with him.
Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, Jack Warner, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, Jose Maria Martin and Nicolas Leoz all joined Mr. Li. Charges were also brought up against Alejandro Burzaco, Aaron Davidson, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis.
"The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States," said United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch (via the NY Times).
FIFA responded in a statement by saying: "FIFA welcomes actions that can help contribute to rooting out any wrongdoing in football."
One glaring name absent from the indictment is that of Sepp Blatter.
Widely considered the most powerful man in sports, FIFA's longtime president is in search of his fifth term. A FIFA spokesman insisted he was not involved in any wrongdoing and that Friday's election will go ahead as planned.
Also going ahead as planned despite Wednesday's findings are the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Controversially awarded to Russia and Qatar, both tournaments have received pressure to be awarded elsewhere.
Spokesman Walter de Gregorio put that issue to bed in his press conference, stating that FIFA will not consider reopening the bid process for either World Cup.
Fourteen officials were arrested Wednesday, but clearly it will do nothing to change the systemic corruption still plaguing the least transparent organization in the world.
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