Fifa Headquarters, Including Sepp Blatter's Offices, Searched By Police As IT Data Seized

Now Fifa Headquarters Are Being Searched By The Police
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FIFA president Sepp Blatter attends a press conference on May 30, 2015 in Zurich after being re-elected during the FIFA Congress. Blatter said he was 'shocked' at the way the US judiciary has targeted football's world body and slammed what he called a 'hate' campaign by Europe's football leaders. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
FABRICE COFFRINI via Getty Images

The Fifa headquarters, including the office of outgoing president Sepp Blatter, has had computer data seized by Swiss authorities investigating the World Cup bids for 2018 and 2022.

The information was taken from the footballing governing body's headquarters in Zurich, the BBC reported.

IT data from the offices of secretary general Jerome Valcke and the organisation's financial chief Markus Kattner is also reported to have been released to Swiss police.

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Fifa headquarters in Zurich was reportedly searched by police who seized IT data from offices including Sepp Blatter

Fifa said it had co-operated fully with the authorities.

Swiss police said last month that they were looking into how forthcoming World Cups were allocated.

The FBI is carrying out an investigation into corruption at Fifa.

Last month, 14 Fifa officials, including two vice presidents, were named in an indictment by the DoJ, which led to a series of arrests in Zurich, Switzerland. Nine of those people are current or former Fifa officials.

Jack Warner, 72, former Fifa vice president and one of those named the indictment spoke out against bribery and corruption at Fifa in a televised interview last Wednesday.

Warner said he fears for his life and claims he can prove a link between football's governing body and the Trinidad and Tobago national elections.

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Speaking in his political broadcast on 'Warner TV', the former Fifa vice president said 'there is no turning back'

He went on to say that there was an "avalanche" of evidence and that he knows the reason why Blatter stood down as president - four days into his fifth term in charge of the governing body.

Just hours before Warner's broadcast, it was revealed that Chuck Blazer, 70, previously an executive committee member of the global footballing association, claimed in testimony to a US Judge that he and other high-ranking officials received corrupt payments from France and South Africa to secure hosting of the 1998 and 2010 competitions.

The FBI's criminal investigation focuses on the mismanagement of funds in relation to the World Cup bid for 2018, which is due to be held in Russia, as well Qatar's 2022 bid.

Both countries have denied any wrongdoing.

Fifa has postponed the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking on Wednesday, Valcke said it would be "nonsense" to begin the process now. Potential bidders to host the 2026 World Cup include the United States, Mexico, Canada and countries from Europe.

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Data has been seized from the office of secretary general Jerome Valcke

Within a week of being re-elected as Fifa president, Blatter announced he would be stepping down.

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Blatter announced he would be standing down during a hastily-arranged press conference, in which he read from a statement and did not take any questions.

He said: "I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the 40 years in which my life has been inextricably bound to Fifa and the great sport of football.

"I cherish Fifa more than anything and I want to do only what is best for Fifa and for football.

"I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation. That election is over but Fifa’s challenges are not. Fifa needs a profound overhaul."

Blatter is expected to stay in the role of president until December, when a new member is elected.