More arrests US instigated

More than a dozen people were arrested on Thursday in Switzerland in connection with corruption allegations at football’s international governing body, a FIFA report said.

Some of the pre-dawn arrests were made at the same hotel where other FIFA officials were arrested in May, the report said.

The raid was carried out by Swiss authorities in the context of a US-led investigation.

The charges, expected to target South and Central American football leadership, would include racketeering, money laundering and fraud, the report said.

Suspended boss , Sepp Blatter, was not among those arrested, the report said, citing law enforcement officials.

The raid followed a two-day FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich ahead of a February congress to elect Blatter’s successor.

A statement issued by FIFA on its website, did not shed any light on the arrests. It said:

“FIFA is aware of the actions taken today by the U.S. Department of Justice. FIFA will continue to cooperate fully with the U.S. investigation as permitted by Swiss law, as well as with the investigation being led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General. FIFA will have no further comment on today’s developments.”