Swiss prosecutors probe 53 ‘suspicious’ FIFA transactions

Swiss prosecutors are investigating 53 “suspicious” banking relations as part of its inquiry into FIFA and bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, the attorney general said Wednesday.

Attorney general Michael Lauber said the cases had been reported by banks under Switzerland’s anti-money laundering alert system and that the inquiry would be very complex.

“We note positively that banks in Switzerland did fulfill their duties to file suspicious activity reports,” he told a press conference.

“Partly in addition to the 104 banking relations already known to the authorities, banks announced 53 suspicious banking relations via the Anti-Money-Laundering-Framework of Switzerland,” he added.

The Swiss inquiry into the World Cup bids — which went to Russia for 2018 and Qatar in 2022 — is one of two major fraud investigations that have rocked FIFA.

US authorities have charged 14 people from North and South America accused of involvement in more than $150 million of bribes for football deals.

Seven FIFA officials were detained in Zurich as part the inquiry on May 27.

Just four days after winning reelection, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced that he would stand down.