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Swiss authorities made a fresh wave of arrests regarding the probe into FIFA’s corruption issues. The pre-dawn raid, conducted in the same hotel in Zurich where arrests were made the last time, captured Alfredo Hawit of Honduras and Juan Ángel Napout of Paraguay. Hawit and Napout, who are the presidents of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL respectively, are members of FIFA’s powerful executive committee and are FIFA Vice Presidents as well.
In an ironic twist of fate, Hawit and Napout both came into power when the Swiss authorities, in conjuction with US officials, arrested their predecessors on the 27th of May this year. FIFA officials had gathered in Zurich to attend an important general meeting, but the raid took place before it could proceed. The investigation into FIFA is being co-ordinated between multiple investigating agencies from many nations, notably the FBI and the IRS from the United States.
In a statement made after the arrests, FIFA said, “FIFA became aware of the actions taken today by the U.S. Department of Justice. FIFA will continue to cooperate fully with the U.S. investigation as permitted by Swiss law, as well as with the investigation being led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General.”
Hawit and Napout aren’t the only FIFA officials expected to be arrested, as Swiss authorities expect to charge a dozen more officials, which can double the size of the case. Football’s governing body can expect an increase in the intense legal attention it will recieve over the coming months, as officials attempt to reform the beleaguered organization.
FIFA plan to increase World Cup to 40 teams
What was expected to be a positive meeting that pushed through multiple reforms for the way FIFA operates, turned almost funereal as news filtered through about the arrests of Hawit and Napout. As a result, a decision to increase the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup to 40 teams was deferred to a later date.
The proposal, which has a large backing from Asian and African confederations, is expected to go through so as to allow FIFA to conduct a far more inclusive World Cup. The tournament was last amended in 1998, where it increased from 24 spots to the current 32. UEFA currently have 13 places, while Africa has 5, Asia & South America both have 4.5, North & Central America have 3.5, Oceania have 0.5, with one spot going to the host (0.5 denotes a playoff spot).
The move to 40 teams, will increase the total number of games played in the world cup to 96, leading to a potential increase in revenue that will sweeten the coffers of FIFA’s 209 member nations. The additional 8 places are expected to be split with 1 additional spot for UEFA, 2 more for Asia and Africa, and 1 each for both the American confederations & Oceania.
