9 FIFA officials have been indicted on corruption charges just as the soccer organization's President, Sepp Blatter, gears up for re-election to a fifth term .
BBC reports that US prosecutors have accused several officials from football's governing body FIFA of racketeering, fraud and money laundering involving tens of millions of dollars over 24 years. During the investigation, prosecutors discovered a dozen schemes, including one awarding the 2010 World Cup to South Africa.
According to the New York Times,
"The indictment also named sports-marketing executives from the United States and South America who are accused of paying more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for media deals associated with major soccer tournaments."
A total of 14 people have been indicted so far. While FIFA's President, Sepp Blatter, was not one of the persons named, his involvement in the scandal still remains to be seen.
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has stated that some FIFA executives,
"Used their positions to solicit bribes....They corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and to enrich themselves."
United States law enforcement officials have pledged to rid the international soccer organization of systemic corruption. The investigation has only begun. Stay tuned as the investigation unfolds.
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