NEW YORK: The US Justice Department announced charges against nine present or former FIFA officials on Wednesday as part of a major investigation into corruption at the core of football’s world governing body. Seven were arrested in Zurich, Switzerland.

Below are brief bios of the nine, five others also indicted, and four who have already pleaded guilty (Source: US Department of Justice):

JEFFREY WEBB (From Cayman Islands, aged 50): Current FIFA vice-president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executive committee member and Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) president. Arrested in Zurich on Wednesday. Banker by trade.

EDUARDO LI (Costa Rica, 56): Current FIFA executive committee member-elect, CONCACAF executive committee member and Costa Rican soccer federation (FEDEFUT) president. Arrested in Zurich on Wednesday.

JULIO ROCHA (Nicaragua, 64): Current FIFA development officer. Former Central American Football Union (UNCAF) president and Nicaraguan soccer federation (FENIFUT) president. Arrested in Zurich on Wednesday.

COSTAS TAKKAS (Britain, 58): Current attachi to the CONCACAF president. Former CIFA general secretary. Arrested in Zurich on Wednesday.

JACK WARNER (Trinidad and Tobago, 72): Former FIFA vice-president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, CFU president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser.

EUGENIO FIGUEREDO (US, Uruguay, 83): Current FIFA vice-president and executive committee member. Former CONMEBOL president and Uruguayan soccer federation (AUF) president. A former player and manager. Arrested in Zurich on Wednesday.

RAFAEL ESQUIVEL (Venezuela, 68): Current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation (FVF) president. Arrested in Zurich on Wednesday.

JOSE MARIA MARIN (Brazil, 83): Current member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments. Former CBF president. Arrested in Zurich on Wednesday.

NICOLAS LEOZ (Paraguay, 86): Former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president.

ALEJANDRO BURZACO (Argentina, 50): Controlling principal of Torneos y Competencias S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

AARON DAVIDSON (US, 44): President of Traffic Sports USA Inc. (Traffic USA).

HUGO JINKIS (Argentina, 70) & MARIANO JINKIS (Argentina, 40): Controlling principals of Full Play Group S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

JOSE MARGULIES (Brazil, 75, also known as Jose Lazaro): Controlling principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd.

Following have pleaded guilty:

DARYLL WARNER (US, Trinidad and Tobago, 40): Son of defendant Jack Warner and a former FIFA development officer, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with wire fraud and the structuring of financial transactions.

DARYAN WARNER (Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada, 46): Waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and the structuring of financial transactions. Forfeited over $1.1 million around the time of his plea.

CHARLES BLAZER (US, 70): Former CONCACAF general secretary and a former FIFA executive committee member waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a 10-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, income tax evasion and failure to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Forfeited over $1.9 million at the time of his plea.

JOSE HAWILLA (Brazil, 71): owner and founder of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Agreed to forfeit over $151 million, $25 million of which was paid at the time of his plea.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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