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CORRUPTION

Argentinian Fifa suspect held in Italy

UPDATED - Italian police said Tuesday that Argentinian businessman Alejandro Burzaco, who has been indicted by US authorities in the Fifa corruption scandal, has turned himself in.

Argentinian Fifa suspect held in Italy
Argentinian businessman Alejandro Burzaco has been indicted by US authorities in the Fifa corruption scandal. Photo: Michael Buholzer/AFP

Burzaco, 50, was being held in Bolzano, near Italy's northern border with Switzerland after turning up at a police station with his lawyers. He was being held pending a hearing later in the day on whether he is
formally arrested.

Burzaco's whereabouts have been a mystery since seven Fifa executives were arrested in Zurich on the eve of a Fifa Congress last week.

According to reports, Burzaco was in the hotel where the executives werecuffed and promptly disappeared in the knowledge he was likely to be on the indicted list.

Burzaco was wanted by the US authorities in connection with his role as president of sports marketing company Torneos y Competencias. He is suspected of irregularitites in the attribution of television rights for football tournaments in Latin America.

The Torneos y Competencias company held the television rights for theArgentinian league between 1992-2009 and in association with Aaron Davidson, the president of Traffic Sports USA arested in Zurich, and Full Play — owned by two fugitive Argentinians Mariano and Hugo Jinkis — hold the rights for the Copa America which kicks off in Chile next month.

Around 14 current or former Fifa officials and sports marketing executives are accused by US prosecutors of taking part in a sweeping kickbacks scheme going back 20 years involving a total of $150 million in bribes.

The revelations have thrown the world of football into turmoil and led to the resignation of long-serving Fifa president Sepp Blatter last week, just four days after his re-election for a fifth successive term.

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CORRUPTION

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president

Police raided the offices of FC Barcelona on Monday, carrying out several arrests just six days ahead of the club's presidential elections, a Catalan regional police spokesman told AFP.

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president
Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu is among the arrested. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain's Cadena Ser radio said one of those arrested was former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, along with CEO Oscar Grau and the club's head of legal services.

But the police refused to confirm names, saying only “arrests are taking place” and adding that the operation was being run by officers from the financial crimes unit.

“We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticise current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu.

Cadena Ser said Barca paid €1 million in six separate invoices to the company I3 Ventures, with whom the club have since cut ties.

Bartomeu resigned in October, after mounting pressure following months of controversy and a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch.

His successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

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