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Loretta Lynch: Expect more FIFA arrests

Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks at a packed news conference at the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Eastern District of New York.
Image: Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks at a packed news conference at the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Eastern District of New York.

More arrests are likely to be made in connection with the ongoing FIFA corruption investigation, according to US Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

The investigation, which centres around the awarding of TV broadcast rights, is expected to widen in the upcoming months.  

Speaking at a news conference in Zurich, Lynch said: "I am grateful for the significant cooperation and substantial evidence we have received from all quarters.  

"Based upon that cooperation and new evidence we do anticipate pursuing additional charges against individuals and entities," added Lynch, who refused to comment on whether FIFA's outgoing president Sepp Blatter is one of those targeted.

Blatter, who will step down from his role next February, has remained in Switzerland since the allegations of corruption arose in May.

"I'm not going to comment at this time on individuals who may or may not be the subject of the next round of arrests; therefore I'm not able to give you information about Mr Blatter's travel plans," Lynch added.

In May, Lynch's department indicted 13 football and marketing officials thought to be involved in an alleged £100m bribery, fraud and money laundering scandal.

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Image: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has promised to step down in early 2016 following allegations of corruption.

Three of the defendants were already in the US at the time of arrest, while 10 others are pending extradition to face charges.  

In a separate investigation into FIFA corruption, Swiss Federal Agencies have seized financial assets, including apartments in the Swiss Alps.

Speaking at the same press conference, Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber confirmed he and his team had made significant progress in the investigation into money laundering, but warned the process has a long way to run.

"House searches have been conducted in the western part of Switzerland and further evidence has been collected," he said. "Where proportional and needed, financial assets have been seized including real estate, for example flats in the Swiss Alps.

"As of today, 121 different bank accounts have been brought to the attention of our taskforce by the Swiss Financial Intelligence Unit and let me remind you that we seized huge amounts of electronic data which today comes up to 11 terabytes.

"By its nature, this investigation will take much more than the legendary 90 minutes. We are not even near the half-time break."

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