Ex-FIFA official Jeffrey Webb pleads not guilty to corruption in U.S. court

A former top FIFA official pleaded not guilty to racketeering and bribery charges in federal court on Saturday.

Jeffrey Webb, one of seven FIFA officials detained during a raid by Swiss police in Zurich in May, was released on $10-million bond following his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. His lawyer declined to comment during the hearing.

Webb, 50, is among 14 people with ties to soccer’s governing body who have been indicted on federal corruption charges. Of seven officials arrested in Switzerland in raids on May 27, Webb is the only one has has agreed to be extradited to the U.S. He was extradited on Wednesday, according to the Swiss Justice Ministry.

Federal prosecutors allege Webb and the other defendants solicited and accepted bribes of more than $150 million over a 24-year period. The payments were tied to the award of broadcasting and hosting rights for the World Cup and other tournaments.

After his indictment, Webb was provisionally banned and replaced as the FIFA vice president of CONCACAF, the regional federation that oversees soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. He was also replaced by Alfredo Hawit as the acting president of CONCACAF.

Last month, federal law enforcement officials revealed that outgoing FIFA President Sepp Blatter was a target of their ongoing criminal probe.

Both American and Swiss authorities are also investigating allegations of impropriety tied to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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