2 ex-FIFA officials now on Interpol most wanted list

The scandal rocking football governing body, Fifa has taken another turn as the International Police (Interpol) has declared two of its officials as being on its most wanted list.

They are among six people placed on the list for racketeering and corruption charges at the request of US authorities.

The former FIFA officials are ex-vice president Jack Warner and former FIFA executive committee member, Nicolás Leoz.

All six are wanted by US authorities investigating more than $150 million (135 million euros) of bribes paid to football officials.

The Red Notices issued by Interpol are not international arrest warrants, but used by the organisation to inform its member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authority, seeking the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.

Warner is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the US Department of Justice with running a criminal enterprise that involved more than $150m in bribes.

Meanwhile, FIFA President Sepp Blatter is being investigated by US authorities as part of their corruption inquiry into football’s governing body, the New York Times has reported.

Blatter, who announced on Tuesday that he would be resigning from his position, has not been directly implicated in the parallel US and Swiss criminal investigations into FIFA, which were announced last week.

 

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