Sepp Blatter
Swiss authorities have seized computer equipment from FIFA President Sepp Blatter's offices as part of an investigation into corruption in football's governing body.
Prosecutors took IT data from both Mr Blatter and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke's headquarters in the Swiss city of Zurich.
“I can confirm that FIFA handed over today seized IT data to the OAG,” stated.a spokesman for Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
“As already communicated, the OAG had opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown.”
The previous month, the OAG opened criminal proceedings against individuals suspected of corruption over the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar.
The seizure of Mr Blatter’s computer records came hours after FIFA postponed the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the bribery scandal currently rocking football's world governing body, FIFA, forced the postponement of the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup.
No fewer than seven executive members of FIFA are being investigated over corruption allegations around the bidding process of the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup.
The vote to decide who will host the 2026 World Cup is due to take place in Kuala Lumpur in May 2017 with the United States as front-runners to stage the tournament. Canada, Mexico and Colombia were also thought to be interested.
“Due to the situation, I think it's nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being. It will be postponed,” FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke stated.