A 36-strong FIFA Council would replace the 25-member executive committee and set “overall strategic direction”, while a general secretariat would oversee the “operational and commercial actions required to effectively execute that strategy”.
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Brayan Jimenez of Guatemala, president of his country’s national soccer federation and a member of FIFA’s committee for fair play and social responsibility.
Also among those charged was Ricardo Teixeira, the president of Brazilian football from 1994-2012.
The package of reforms, which included 12-year term limits in future for FIFA President, will now go before the FIFA congress to be held on February 26 for final approval. Webb and banned former CONCACAF chief Jack Warner, who was indicted earlier, were also accused of siphoning off cash intended for disaster relief, according to the new indictment.
Fifa’s executive committee had been meeting in the city, voting on reforms. The last three presidents of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have been indicted.
At a news conference in the capital, Tegucigalpa, Callejas said his lawyers were studying the accusations and considering what steps to take. Do not generalise the situation.
“Today’s events involving individual members of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL in no way pierce the integrity of the rigorous safeguards the United States Soccer Federation required before agreeing to host Copa America Centenario that ensure the tournament is organized and conducted in a way that is open, transparent and above reproach”, read the statement. They are being indicted on charges of racketeering, conspiracy and corruption. As part of his plea, Webb agreed to forfeit more than $6.7 million.
One woman pleaded guilty. Both men are facing lifetime bans for corruption.
“I think (Blatter) is well aware of the nature of our charges”, Lynch said.
The indictments list a who’s who of soccer executives.
CONMEBOL said it would “continue co-operating at all times with the investigation of authorities, and will continue deepening administrative reforms…”
The FOJ said it would wait for formal transfer requests from the United States for both Hawit and Napout before moving forward with a the extradition process.
“Nobody is above the law and, for this reason, the government has told the USA of our readiness to collaborate”, said a government press release.
According to Swiss authorities, Hawit and Napout are alleged to have taken kickbacks in return for marketing rights to football tournaments in Latin America and World Cup qualifying matches. Hawit also was charged with attempting to obstruct the grand jury investigation by attempting in July to corruptly influence testimony before the grand jury. They described two decades of corruption in which officials rigged World Cup bids and steered marketing and broadcast contracts in exchange for bribes. The U.S. has sought to restrain assets in 13 nations.
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The allegations lay bare the hypocrisy at the heart of Federation Internationale de Football Association, says sports historian Philip Barker, who spoke to VOA on Skype.
