US prosecutors accused 40 officials and marketing executives of soliciting and receiving tens of millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks in a case that sparked an unprecedented crisis at FIFA.
Many have since pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for a possible reduction in sentence. Two companies were also accused.
Only five defendants are left under house arrest in the United States, facing a trial that a federal judge has recommended should begin in New York late next year.
The US investigation rocked FIFA to the core and ultimately led to the downfall of its former president, Sepp Blatter, who is serving a six-year ban from football over ethics violations.
Blatter is now under a fresh investigation over alleged illicit salaries and bonuses totalling 80 million, FIFA’s ethics committee said in September.
From Agencies, Feature image courtesy timesofisrael.com
