The U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has spoken about the reports stating that Sepp Blatter, who resigned as FIFA’s president on Tuesday, is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.
[ RELATED: FBI investigating Blatter? ]
Blatter, 79, has not been arrested but 14 individuals were indicted last week as the FBI-led investigation saw nine high-ranking FIFA officials arrested by Swiss police in Zurich ahead of the presidential election last Friday, which Blatter won for a fifth-straight time.
Reports of Blatter’s right-hand man Jerome Valcke being caught up in the scandal have been dismissed by FIFA and Valcke but on Wednesday a 40-page document from Chuck Blazer (former secretary general of CONCACAF and a member of the FIFA Executive Committee) is due to be released by the FBI as plenty more information on individuals involved will become available.
[ RELATED: Who is next? ]
Speaking in the Latvian capital of Riga, Lynch was first asked about Blatter’s resignation.
“We certainly hope the organization will be able to move forward in a way that are supportive of its goals, which are the promotion and regulation of a truly wonderful sport,” Lynch said.
Lynch then had the following to say about the FBI’s ongoing investigation into corruption at FIFA when asked if Blatter was being investigated.
“With respect to the FIFA investigation as was announced last week we are not able to comment further on the nature of other individuals who may or may not be under investigation,” Lynch said. “This is an ongoing matter, it is an open case, and so we will now be speaking through the courts.”
The U.S. Attorney General then confirmed that the Swiss authorities are looking into the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but could not add anything further.
“The Swiss authorities do have an investigation underway and their investigation covers matters involving the World Cup awarding for 2018 and 2022, and beyond that I am not able to comment.”
