Eight FIFA officials have pleaded guilty, reveals Lynch

United States attorney general Loretta Lynch has confirmed eight FIFA officials have agreed to plead guilty to corruption charges.

Shortly after announcing that US officials have charged 16 more current and former FIFA officials as part of their investigation into world football’s governing body, the US Department of Justice released a document detailing that the accused of being involved “in criminal schemes involving well over $200million in bribes and kickbacks”.

Lynch revealed eight additional individuals with links to FIFA have now decided to plead guilty, five of whom have not been named to date.

Speaking at a media conference, Lynch said: “One defendant is the chief of FIFA’s disciplinary committee, who is charged with stamping out the corrupt behaviour in which he is now thought to be involved. This is truly outrageous and the scale of corruption of the alleged [at FIFA] is unconscionable. 

“The message of this announcement should be clear to every culpable individual who remains in the shadows, hoping to evade this ongoing investigation – you will not wait us out and you will not escape our focus. 

“Many have heeded that warning and today I can report eight additional defendants have agreed to plead guilty for their involvement in the corruption. 

“These defendants came forward and accepted responsibility for their criminal culpability. Five were not named in the original indictment.”

Lynch went on to state that former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb – arrested in May – was amongst the group to plead guilty and co-operate with the authorities.