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Soccer officials arrested by Swiss police ahead of FIFA congress (updated)

Xinhua, May 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

It was reported that six soccer officials were arrested and detained by Swiss police on Wednesday before soccer's governing body FIFA holds its congress.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a statement that the case involves bribes totaling more than 100 million U.S. dollars linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s for soccer tournaments.

It also confirmed that FIFA president Sepp Blatter was not among those arrested.

"The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating these individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kickbacks between the early 1990s and the present day," the statement said.

The 1994 World Cup was held in the United States.

It was reported that the police raided the hotel and took away the officials in hotel rooms who are in Switzerland for the FIFA congress and presidential election.

No more comment was made when Xinhua reached the Swiss police. Endi