FIFA Corruption: Swiss Bank UBS says cooperating in Investigation

Geneva, Nov 4: Swiss bank UBS has revealed it has received requests from judicial authorities to inquire into bank accounts in relation to the corruption scandal that has engulfed world football’s governing body FIFA.

UBS clarified in its quarterly report that the bank accounts in question belong to “football associations, individuals and entities”, while it highlighted its cooperation in current investigations, reports Efe. Last week financial services company Credit Suisse also disclosed it is cooperating with judicial inquiries in Switzerland and the United States.

A United States court has filed corruption charges against 14 former and current FIFA officials, as well as heads of associated business entities, while seven people were arrested in May in Switzerland. The United States requested the extradition of all the defendants. Two of them decided to turn themselves in voluntarily, while the rest refused this option.

The Federal Department of Justice in Switzerland is currently conducting parallel investigations regarding FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is currently subject to provisional suspension for 90 days, over suspicions that he is involved in corruption cases, as well as UEFA president Michel Platini, who has been provisionally suspended as well.

The Swiss prosecution noted that it is reviewing a considerable amount of information in relation to the bank accounts in question. (IANS)