Friday, 4 December 2015

Eight FIFA Officials Have Pleaded Guilty - US Attorney Reveals


United States attorney general Loretta Lynch has confirmed
eight Fifa officials have agreed to plead guilty to corruption
charges.

Shortly after announcing that US officials have charged 16
more current and former Fifa officials as part of their
investigation into world football's governing body, the US
Department of Justice released a document detailing that
the accused of being involved "in criminal schemes involving
well over $200 million in bribes and kickbacks".

Lynch revealed eight additional individuals with links to Fifa
have now decided to plead guilty, five of whom have not
been named to date.

Speaking at a media conference, Lynch said: "One defendant
is the chief of Fifa's disciplinary committee, who is charged
with stamping out the corrupt behaviour in which he is now
thought to be involved. This is truly outrageous and the
scale of corruption of the alleged [at Fifa] is
unconscionable.

"The message of this announcement should be clear to
every culpable individual who remains in the shadows,
hoping to evade this ongoing investigation - you will not wait
us out and you will not escape our focus.

"Many have heeded that warning and today I can report eight
additional defendants have agreed to plead guilty for their
involvement in the corruption.

"These defendants came forward and accepted
responsibility for their criminal culpability. Five were not
named in the original indictment."

Lynch went on to state that former Fifa vice president
Jeffrey Webb - arrested in May - was amongst the group to
plead guilty and co-operate with the authorities.

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