More FIFA Officials Arrested in Dawn Raids

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Working on behalf of the U.S. Justice Department, Swiss authorities targeted top FIFA officials in raids across Zurich this morning, arresting some officials at the exact same hotel where police picked up their colleagues in a similar raid last May. The New York Times is reporting that “more than a dozen people were expected to be charged,” although only two seem to be in custody so far.

The arrested officials are Honduran Alfredo Hawit and Paraguayan Juan Ángel Napout, the presidents of Concacaf and CONMEBOL (the North American and South American confederations), respectively. According to Swiss authorities, both men are resisting extradition to the U.S.

Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his right hand man Jerome Valcke are reportedly not among those sought by law enforcement.

The arrests come just before the FIFA Executive Committee was set to meet and discuss reform processes.

FIFA released a statement early this morning, local time:

“FIFA is aware of the actions taken today by the U.S. Department of Justice. FIFA will continue to cooperate fully with the U.S. investigation as permitted by Swiss law, as well as with the investigation being led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General. FIFA will have no further comment on today’s developments.”

And now, jokes: