Miami

FBI Takes Evidence From South Florida Office Connected to FIFA Probe

FBI agents removed boxes of evidence from the Miami Beach headquarters of CONCACAF Wednesday as part of a sweeping investigation targeting FIFA administrators.

Nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives have been indicted on racketeering, conspiracy and corruption charges linked to FIFA's oversight of the World Cup and other international soccer tournaments, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

The defendants include the current and former presidents Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), headquartered in Miami Beach, as well as two current FIFA Vice Presidents.

A search warrant was executed Wednesday morning at CONCACAF headquarters, according to an announcement from the DOJ.

FBI agents were seen carrying more than a dozen boxes from the headquarters at 1000 Fifth Street, Suite 304, early Wednesday. 

Among the defendants in South Florida are Traffic Sports USA President Aaron Davidson, as well as CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb.

Seven defendants were arrested overseas. Four have pled guilty.

Davidson is the chairman of the board of the North American Soccer League. His company used to own the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

The case involves bribes "totaling more than $100 million" linked to commercial deals dating back more than 20 years for soccer tournaments in the United States and Latin America, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in a statement.

In a separate case, Swiss federal prosecutors say they have opened criminal proceedings related to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar, and have seized "electronic data and documents" at FIFA's headquarters as part of the probe.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.

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