FIFA may be based in Switzerland and oversee a game that most Americans don't watch, but U.S. officials said they have the jurisdiction to pursue corruption charges against some of its top officials.
The U.S. Justice Department announced the charges—including racketeering and bribery—on Wednesday, unsealing a 47-count indictment as well as several earlier guilty pleas. U.S. authorities said that nine FIFA officials and five sports media and promotions executives face corruption charges involving more than $150 million in bribes.
Several top-ranking international soccer officials were arrested Wednesday in Switzerland for extradition to the United States.