In the latest scandal to rock world football governing body FIFA, a number of former executives have been implicated in fresh bribery allegations relating to the hosting of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.
In a 70-page indictment that was made public overnight, US prosecutors have alleged that numerous former FIFA executives accepted bribes in exchange for voting for Russia and Qatar as the respective hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.
Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who was among the first high-ranking officials indicted by the FBI in 2015, is also said to have received £4 million (R90 million) under the table in exchange for his support for Russia's bid for the 2018 event.
The allegations contained in the indictment come five years after a dawn raid was first executed near FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, with the document containing more details of the alleged scandal than any previous information released under the investigation.
According to the BBC, a total of 42 people have been indicted, with 26 having already pleaded guilty. Authorities from both Russia and Qatar have previously denied all allegations of bribery, and FIFA's own investigation into the matter in 2017 effectively exonerated both nations of any wrongdoing.
