Brazil launches its own football graft probe

Brazilian authorities on Thursday launched their own probe into football corruption following the arrest of leading officials from the sport's world governing body FIFA.

Justice minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo said in a statement he had ordered federal police to investigate claims of graft in the Brazilian game.

The announcement came a day after Swiss police arrested seven FIFA officials for alleged fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

All face extradition to the US and up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Among those detained in Zurich was Jose Maria Marin, the president of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) from March 2012 to April this year.

Brazilian Jose Hawilla, the founder of sports marketing company Traffic Group, was named by the US Department of Justice as a convicted defendant who has already pleaded guilty to US corruption charges.

The CBF said on Thursday it had handed over documents related to the entity's commercial contracts to federal prosecutors.

"The CBF manifests its support to any investigation and is available to provide additional clarification if necessary," the organization said on its website.

Prosecutors in Brazil are expected to probe allegations that CBF officials accepted kickbacks for a national team sponsorship deal and the Copa do Brasil marketing rights.

Meanwhile CBF president Marco Polo del Nero left Zurich on the eve of FIFA's presidential election to return to Brazil, a spokesperson for the body confirmed on Thursday night.

The decision means Brazil will no longer be represented in the vote that pits incumbent Sepp Blatter against Prince Ali of Jordan.

Blatter, 79, is the favorite to be reelected for a fifth four-year term. Endi