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U.S. Prosecutor Lynch Warns 'No Individual Is Above The Law' In FIFA Inquiry

The U.S. prosecutor who sent FIFA into meltdown in May has warned that "no individual is above the law" as the investigation into world football’s governing body continues, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. In a speech in Zurich, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch "hailed the spirit of co-operation" between U.S. and Swiss law enforcement agencies. Lynch said, "In the United States, that investigation resulted in charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies spanning two decades. It exposed high-ranking officials of FIFA; leaders of regional and other governing bodies under the FIFA umbrella; and sports marketing executives who, according to the indictment, paid millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments." Lynch’s appearance alongside Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber comes as FIFA President Sepp Blatter "has been drawn further into the sights of investigators." Lynch said, "We made it abundantly clear once again that prosecutors around the world will stand together in order to root out corruption and bring wrongdoers to justice -- no matter where they are, no matter how complex their crimes and no matter how powerful they may be" (GUARDIAN, 9/14). REUTERS' Franklin, Hosenball & Homewood wrote Lynch said that U.S. authorities expanded their investigations and "expect to file additional criminal charges." As part of a separate Swiss investigation, Switzerland's chief prosecutor said that "his office had seized property and flats in the Swiss Alps in connection with its probe into corruption inside Zurich-based FIFA." Lynch: "What I can say is that, separate and apart from the pending indictment, our investigation remains active and ongoing, and has in fact expanded since May." Lauber said that "the Swiss investigation had not yet reached the half-way mark and his office had continued to build up its mountain of seized data" (REUTERS, 9/14). The AP reported Lauber said that "houses were also searched in western Switzerland and evidence was seized." Lauber said that "121 different bank accounts have been reported as suspicious by a Swiss financial intelligence unit" (AP, 9/14). In N.Y., Robinson & Revill reported Lynch did not "provide details of any new charges" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/14).

SWISS TO PROBE CONTRACT
: REUTERS' Hosenball & Ingram reported two Swiss law enforcement officials said that the Swiss Attorney General’s Office "will investigate a contract for media rights to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups." The inquiry follows a TV news report asserting that FIFA "sold the rights for rates far below market" to a Caribbean football organization, whose leader then resold them for much more. The inquiry "expands the scrutiny" facing FIFA and Blatter along with former CONCACAF President Jack Warner. A spokesperson for U.S. prosecutors in Brooklyn, N.Y. "did not respond to a request for comment" on whether American authorities, who are running their own sweeping investigation of alleged corruption in football, would join Swiss law enforcement in looking at the contract. A U.S. lawyer for Warner "declined to comment, and the Caribbean Football Union did not respond to an after-hours request for comment on Sunday." An attorney for Blatter "referred to a statement issued by FIFA on Saturday" (REUTERS, 9/14).

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