Blatter responds to FIFA corruption charges

Seven of the 14 defendants charged with racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracies and other offenses were arrested by Swiss authorities in Zurich on Wednesday morning, with six planning to fight extradition to the United States. "As unfortunate as these events are, it should be clear that we welcome the actions and the investigations by the U.S. and Swiss authorities and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken to root out any wrongdoing in football," said Blatter in the statement posted online. "Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game." The embattled FIFA president is not one of the officials named in the indictment unveiled by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. But Lynch declined to comment on his status in possible ongoing investigations. Speaking at a press conference in New York along with FBI Director James Comey and other law enforcement officials, Lynch blasted those involved in alleged acts of bribery surrounding the 2010 World Cup bidding process and FIFA's 2011 presidential election. "They were expected to uphold the rules that keep soccer honest, and protect the integrity of the game. Instead, they corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and enrich themselves." Among those accused of racketeering and bribery are Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner -- the current and former presidents of CONCACAF, the soccer federation covering North and Central America and the Caribbean. She also revealed that four individuals, including former CONCACAF general secretary and FIFA executive committee member Charles Blazer, and two corporate defendants have already plead guilty to corruption charges. The harshest penalties faced by the indicted and convicted individuals are linked to the racketeering charges, which carry a maximum prison term of 20 years. The group of 14 indicted defendants is collectively accused of conspiring to solicit over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks. "The game, according to the allegations and this indictment, was hijacked," the FBI's Comey said. "This hijacking is being met with a very aggressive prosecutorial response in order to change behavior." The sport's European federation, UEFA, has called for postponement of the FIFA Congress at which Blatter was to seek a fifth term at an election scheduled for Friday. "These events show, once again, that corruption is deeply rooted in FIFA's culture. There is a need for the whole of FIFA to be 'rebooted' and for a real reform to be carried out," UEFA said in a statement. Source: Kyodo