Updated at 8am
SEPP BLATTER IS the focus of an FBI corruption investigation in the United States, American media reported Tuesday, shortly after his shock resignation as president of FIFA.
The New York Times and ABC News reported the investigation, citing unnamed law enforcement officials and sources familiar with the case, but gave no further details.
An FBI spokesman said the bureau was “making no comment” beyond last week’s announcement by the Attorney General and FBI director that FIFA was being investigated for corruption.
ABC News said Blatter was being investigated by the FBI and US prosecutors as part of the probe that led to last week’s indictments.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced last Wednesday that the United States had indicted 14 FIFA executives and sports marketing executives accused is a $150 million bribery scheme.
Seven FIFA officials were arrested in a dawn swoop by Swiss police on a luxury five-star hotel in Zurich ahead of the body’s executive meeting, which saw Blatter briefly re-elected.
At the time, US prosecutors said the investigation was ongoing but would not be drawn on the possible charges against other senior FIFA figures and pointedly refused to answer questions about Blatter.
(C) AFP 2015
