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Paraguay raids Conmebol headquarters within FIFA investigation

Xinhua, January 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Paraguay's attorney general's officers on Thursday searched the headquarters of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) in Asuncion, at the demand of the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its ongoing investigation into FIFA corruption.

"This was a raid with judicial authorization, to assist in a criminal matter as requested by the United States Department of Justice," stated Hernan Galeano, an agent specialized in money laundering investigations.

The operation happened due "to probable cause connecting Conmebol executives to money laundering and other punishable acts, according to U.S. criminal legislation," Galeano told the press.

The last three Conmebol presidents (Nicolas Leoz, Eugenio Figueredo and Juan Ángel Napout) all stand accused of being part of a corruption ring which garnered millions by selling transmission rights for games to specific companies.

In June 2015, Paraguay's Congress approved the removal of diplomatic immunity for Conmebol's seat in Asuncion. Endit