US expands criminal probe into FIFA

The U.S. criminal investigation into FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, has expanded beyond the initial indictment revealed earlier this year, and American prosecutors now anticipate more charges against individuals and entities, The Wall Street Journal reported.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch made the announcement here on Monday alongside her Swiss counterpart Michael Lauber, who is separately probing how FIFA awarded the hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 soccer World Cups.

Ms. Lynch didn’t provide details of any new charges and wouldn’t comment on what she called “the next round of arrests.” But she said entities found using the U.S. financial system for illegal practices or that did business in the country could be charged.

In her first public comments since late May, when the Justice Department and Swiss authorities disclosed the indictment, she gave an update on the 14 FIFA officials and other soccer executives who were charged with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

Thirteen of those suspects, who include several current or former members of FIFA’s ruling executive committee, have been arrested, said Ms. Lynch.

Three of them are currently in the U.S. and have been brought before a Brooklyn federal court. The 10 others are pending extradition in Switzerland and three other countries, she said.