5th June, 2015
Secret Service Agents on Thursday raided the headquarters of the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) in Caracas, in the wake of the scandal that led to the arrest of FVF President Rafael Esquivel in Zurich.
Hours before the Wednesday raid, the Venezuelan prosecutor’s office had requested that Esquivel’s bank accounts be frozen, amid allegations of money laundering.
US authorities were investigating the Venezuelan and six other FIFA officials over allegations that they took bribes totalling over 100 million dollars from media and sports promotion firms.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has expressed support for the investigation, although he also has reservations over the role of U.S. officials amid long-standing tensions between the two countries.
However, Esquivel, 68, is likely to be extradited to the US.