Entertainment

Friday, May 29th 2015 - 08:45 UTC
Led by former star Romario, Brazilian Senate opens formal inquiry into country's football

Brazilian police began investigating allegations of corruption in its soccer industry on Thursday, prompted by the arrests of top officials at world soccer body FIFA in a U.S. bribery probe. The country's Senate, led by former national soccer star Romario, who is now a prominent legislator, moved to open a formal inquiry into alleged bribes paid to obtain contracts with the Brazilian Soccer Federation (CBF).
Friday, May 29th 2015 - 08:41 UTC
Putin claims US seeks to derail Russia's 2018 World Cup plans

Russian president Vladimir Putin waded into the FIFA scandal by accusing the United States of interfering in FIFA affairs after the US Justice Department ordered Swiss police to arrest seven senior FIFA officials on Wednesday. They were among nine current and former FIFA officials indicted.
Friday, May 29th 2015 - 08:33 UTC
Undaunted Blatter blames corruption on others and pledges to rebuild trust in FIFA

Despite growing pressure to resign having presided over a series of corruption scandals, Sepp Blatter tells Congress he is still the man to rebuild trust in FIFA’s battered reputation
Friday, May 29th 2015 - 08:27 UTC
Asian confederation announces it will support Blatter on Friday

The Asian Football Confederation says it still supports Sepp Blatter's bid for another term as FIFA president, and opposes any move to delay Friday's scheduled elections in the wake of a string of corruption arrests of some of the federation's top officials.
Thursday, May 28th 2015 - 06:11 UTC
UEFA meets on Thursday in a bid to postpone FIFA presidential election

European football's leaders are to meet on Thursday in a bid to postpone FIFA's presidential election. UEFA said Friday's vote should not go ahead after bribery and racketeering charges were laid against senior officials in football's governing body. “These events show, once again, that corruption is deeply rooted in FIFA's culture,” UEFA said.
Thursday, May 28th 2015 - 05:56 UTC
FIFA's key sponsor express “serious concern” following corruption allegations

Key sponsors of FIFA have expressed “serious concern” after the US accused senior officials of football's governing body of racketeering, fraud and money laundering. Coca-Cola said the World Cup had been “tarnished” by “lengthy controversy”.
Thursday, May 28th 2015 - 05:40 UTC
US formalizes extradition request of three Argentines allegedly involved in FIFA investigation

Argentina's foreign ministry confirmed late Wednesday that United States had officially requested the extradition of three Argentine citizens allegedly involved in the US Justice Department investigation into FIFA corrupt dealings.
Thursday, May 28th 2015 - 01:17 UTC
Blatter “welcomes investigations” into such “misconduct that has no place in football”

FIFA chief Joseph Blatter in a brief statement said on Wednesday afternoon that “we welcome the actions and the investigations by the US and Swiss authorities” and further on emphasized that “such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game”•
Thursday, May 28th 2015 - 01:14 UTC
FIFA rules out re-vote on Russia and Qatar and says Friday's congress 'will go ahead'

FIFA has ruled out a re-vote on awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar as Swiss authorities prepare to question ten executive committee members about the corruption-tainted bidding process.
Thursday, May 28th 2015 - 00:18 UTC
“Red Card” for 14 FIFA and sports marketing officials

The United States Department of Justice brought charges on racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering on 14 FIFA and sports marketing officials. Dubbed the “World Cup of corruption” by Richard Weber, chief of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit, the charges are the result of an investigation from the U.S. District Attorney’s office in Eastern New York.