Federation Internationale de Football Association ethics court bans arrested VPs Napout, Hawit

Speaking in Washington later Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the arrests of the football confederation presidents are part of a larger 92-count indictment against 16 new defendants, all of whom are sitting or former football officials.

FIFA suspended vice-presidents Alfredo Hawit and Juan Angel Napout from “all football-related activity” for 90 days on Friday following the pair’s arrest in Switzerland on Thursday.

The FIFA ethics bans are routine for officials indicted in the sweeping American investigation.

The FIFA vice-presidents are alleged to have taken money in return for selling marketing rights in connection with football tournaments in Latin America, as well as World Cup qualifying matches.

The Swiss authorities are probing the ruling body in a separate investigation which centres on the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

“Fifa’s current leadership say a new package of reforms will transform them into a “modern, trusted and professional sports organisation”.

The Times cited several law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity as saying that the US Justice Department would unseal indictments in the case later on Thursday. “The United States has issued mutual legal assistance requests seeking the restraint of assets located in 13 countries around the world”.

It said that Honduras’ Hawit and Paraguay’s Napout “are opposing their extradition” and Swiss would now request formal extradition requests from the U.S. “Payments were also processed via U.S. banks”, the FOJ further said. He is now fighting extradition from Trinidad to the USA.

That decision set off a cascade of allegations of corruption and skullduggery. It also suggested the pay package of top officials be published annually and independently audited.

Also charged yesterday were former Panama Football Federation chief, Ariel Alvarado; former president of Honduras and football federation head, Rafael Callejas; current Guatemala football president, Brayan Jimenez; former Guatemala football head, Rafael Salguero; current Guatemala football general secretary, Hector Trujillo who is also a judge; and Reynaldo Vasquez, a former Salvadoran football chief.

Fernando Sarney, a Federation Internationale de Football Association executive committee member from Brazil, said the early morning arrests tainted the meeting.