Interpol yesterday put disgraced Fifa executive members Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz on their most wanted list and issued an international alert.
Four heads of sports marketing companies have also been put on the list.
All six are wanted by US authorities investigating more than $150-million (R1.8-billion) of bribes paid to football officials.
Warner, a former Fifa vice-president, is in Trinidad and Tobago. Leoz, an executive member, is reportedly under house arrest in his native Paraguay.
“At the request of US authorities ... international wanted persons alerts have been issued for two former Fifa officials and four corporate executives for charges including racketeering, conspiracy and corruption,” the Lyon-based international police body said.
Three of the sports marketing bosses are Argentine nationals, Alejandro Burzac and Hugo and Mariano Jinkis.
The other is Brazilian national Jose Margulies – also known as Jose Lazaro, according to Interpol.
Interpol stressed the “red notice” issued against the six was not an international arrest warrant and could not force national authorities to hold the suspects.
The publication of the red notices came a day after the spectacular resignation of Fifa boss Sepp Blatter as the New York Times reported the 79-year-old was the focus of an FBI corruption probe.
ABC News also said Blatter was the subject of an investigation, which it said was part of the larger probe that led to the arrest of seven Fifa officials in a Swiss hotel.
Blatter’s shock resignation‚ hours before it emerged he was under investigation, prompted widespread calls for root-and-branch reforms at soccer’s world governing body yesterday.
The Swiss national‚ who has led Fifa for 17 years‚ was being investigated by US prosecutors and the FBI‚ a person who spoke on condition of anonymity said late on Tuesday.
Blatter has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Fifa did not respond to a request for comment on Blatter being under investigation.
“Fifa needs profound restructuring‚” Blatter said. “I decided to stand again because I was convinced it was the best option for football.
“Although the members of Fifa gave me a new mandate‚ this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world.”
He said an election to choose a new president would be held as soon as possible‚ although a Fifa official said it would probably not take place until at least December. Blatter will remain in his position until a successor is chosen.
His daughter‚ Corinne Blatter-Andenmatten‚ said her father’s decision to stand down was not tied to corruption allegations.
“His decision has nothing‚ absolutely nothing‚ to do with the allegations going around‚” she said.
European sports officials said Blatter’s resignation‚ with Fifa mired in the worst crisis in its 111-year history‚ was an important step‚ but that the organisation needed deeper changes.
“Beyond the people‚ structural reforms must be undertaken‚” French Sports State Secretary Thierry Braillard said.
New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin said soccer should now rebuild its tattered reputation.
“This has lifted a cloud and taken away a lot of the concerns of stakeholders and their association with the sport‚” he said.
“We now want a strong collaborative leader who can bring the football world together and bring out the change the game has been crying out for.”
The Asian Football Confederation‚ a staunch ally of Blatter‚ said it was monitoring the situation and would discuss the “best way forward for Fifa and world football”.
The Philippines Football Federation‚ a member of the Asian Football Confederation‚ said it was surprised by Blatter’s decision‚ but noted this “offers a big opportunity to continue and intensify the reforms that have been started.
“Indeed‚ deliberate focus on more governance reform and transparency is now called for.” — AFP-Reuters
Interpol to close in on disgraced Fifa bosses
Four heads of sports marketing companies have also been put on the list.
All six are wanted by US authorities investigating more than $150-million (R1.8-billion) of bribes paid to football officials.
Warner, a former Fifa vice-president, is in Trinidad and Tobago. Leoz, an executive member, is reportedly under house arrest in his native Paraguay.
“At the request of US authorities ... international wanted persons alerts have been issued for two former Fifa officials and four corporate executives for charges including racketeering, conspiracy and corruption,” the Lyon-based international police body said.
Three of the sports marketing bosses are Argentine nationals, Alejandro Burzac and Hugo and Mariano Jinkis.
The other is Brazilian national Jose Margulies – also known as Jose Lazaro, according to Interpol.
Interpol stressed the “red notice” issued against the six was not an international arrest warrant and could not force national authorities to hold the suspects.
The publication of the red notices came a day after the spectacular resignation of Fifa boss Sepp Blatter as the New York Times reported the 79-year-old was the focus of an FBI corruption probe.
ABC News also said Blatter was the subject of an investigation, which it said was part of the larger probe that led to the arrest of seven Fifa officials in a Swiss hotel.
Blatter’s shock resignation‚ hours before it emerged he was under investigation, prompted widespread calls for root-and-branch reforms at soccer’s world governing body yesterday.
The Swiss national‚ who has led Fifa for 17 years‚ was being investigated by US prosecutors and the FBI‚ a person who spoke on condition of anonymity said late on Tuesday.
Blatter has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Fifa did not respond to a request for comment on Blatter being under investigation.
“Fifa needs profound restructuring‚” Blatter said. “I decided to stand again because I was convinced it was the best option for football.
“Although the members of Fifa gave me a new mandate‚ this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world.”
He said an election to choose a new president would be held as soon as possible‚ although a Fifa official said it would probably not take place until at least December. Blatter will remain in his position until a successor is chosen.
His daughter‚ Corinne Blatter-Andenmatten‚ said her father’s decision to stand down was not tied to corruption allegations.
“His decision has nothing‚ absolutely nothing‚ to do with the allegations going around‚” she said.
European sports officials said Blatter’s resignation‚ with Fifa mired in the worst crisis in its 111-year history‚ was an important step‚ but that the organisation needed deeper changes.
“Beyond the people‚ structural reforms must be undertaken‚” French Sports State Secretary Thierry Braillard said.
New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin said soccer should now rebuild its tattered reputation.
“This has lifted a cloud and taken away a lot of the concerns of stakeholders and their association with the sport‚” he said.
“We now want a strong collaborative leader who can bring the football world together and bring out the change the game has been crying out for.”
The Asian Football Confederation‚ a staunch ally of Blatter‚ said it was monitoring the situation and would discuss the “best way forward for Fifa and world football”.
The Philippines Football Federation‚ a member of the Asian Football Confederation‚ said it was surprised by Blatter’s decision‚ but noted this “offers a big opportunity to continue and intensify the reforms that have been started.
“Indeed‚ deliberate focus on more governance reform and transparency is now called for.” — AFP-Reuters
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