More arrests coming in FIFA probe, says Lynch

| 14/09/2015 | 19 Comments
Cayman News Service

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch in Zurich

(CNS): US Attorney General Loretta Lynch has warned that there will be more arrests and charges to come in the massive FIFA $150 million corruption probe but refused to say if the world football boss, Sepp Blatter, is on the list as she indicated prosecutors were following the evidence. Speaking at a joint press conference in Zürich with the Swiss AG, Michael Lauber, on Monday, Lynch said the investigation continued and had expanded since May. “Based upon that cooperation and new evidence, we do anticipate pursuing additional charges against individuals and entities,” she said.

As allegations emerged at the weekend implying Blatter had sold TV rights on the cheap to Jack Warner, who routed them through a Cayman-based offshore company, Lynch said no one was above the law, but she evaded reporters’ questions over the possible arrest of Blatter.

“Our message is clear: no individual is impervious to the law. No corrupt organisation is beyond its reach. And no criminal act can evade the concerted efforts of dedicated men and women fighting for justice,” Lynch stated, noting that corruption undermines values, diminishes confidence in institutions and shakes the foundations of global society.

Pointing to the cooperation and size of the investigation, she said the US authorities were working with a number of countries.

“Our cooperation with the Swiss authorities, for which we are grateful, is strong and multifaceted … but we have also begun coordinating closely with prosecutors and law enforcement officials from a number of other countries as well. I have been gratified to see that the response to this problem has not been limited to one country or even one continent. The problem of corruption in soccer is global, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to support a global response,” she said as she urged reform in the game.

Lynch said that of the 14 FIFA officials and sports executives that have been arrested, three have already appeared in US courts. One of those is Cayman’s Jeffrey Webb, who has pleaded not guilty to the corruption charges laid against him and is currently under house arrest in his Georgia home.

US Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Delivers Remarks at Press Conference with Attorney General Michael Lauber of Switzerland, 14 September 2015

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Category: Crime, USA, World News

Comments (19)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Watching Eyes…
    Great job US Attorney General !!!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    I have a feeling a few knees are shaking now!

  3. Anonymous says:

    Biggest solution to solve this problem… Disband the CIFA. It is dead weight.

    Wouldn’t Rugby be better off, doesn’t Cayman Rugby have a way better success track record than this dead weight we call CIFA?

    • Anonymous says:

      The problem with rugby is that no one cares about rugby, Caymanians do not play rugby. Why would the CI Gov expend money on rugby.
      By the way the Rugby WC starts today? Does anyone here cares.

    • Anonymous says:

      Recent results would put that statement in to question but yes, they should be disbanded.

  4. WaYaSay says:

    Having Bruce Blake take over from Jeff Webb is akin to having Jeff Web take over from Jack Warner!

  5. Anonymous says:

    Some Christmas shopping trips to Miami will have to be cancelled.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Banga-langa-langa, sum people in deep doo-doo. CIFA must be bricking it.

  7. Anonymous says:

    We can all agree that CIFA is in good hands with Bruce Blake at the helm.

    • Just Wondering says:

      Jack Warner bought Caribbean television rights for the 2010 and 2014 WC’s for about $600K in 2005. He them resold the rights through his CI based company were Mr. J Webb was a director for about $20 million. According to Mr. Warner he used the profits for the development of football in the Caribbean. I wonder, now that CIFA is in good hands, how much of these profits the CI received and how it was used? Mr. Blake should know he is been there since before 2005, correct.

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