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| UK fraud watchdog assessing Fifa allegations | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it is actively assessing "material in its possession" relating to Fifa corruption allegations. | The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it is actively assessing "material in its possession" relating to Fifa corruption allegations. |
| The US Justice Department (DOJ) has charged 14 people with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. | The US Justice Department (DOJ) has charged 14 people with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. |
| And the SFO says it "has made plain that it stands ready to assist ongoing international criminal investigations". | And the SFO says it "has made plain that it stands ready to assist ongoing international criminal investigations". |
| It said its probe had been ongoing for months, before Wednesday's indictments. | It said its probe had been ongoing for months, before Wednesday's indictments. |
| Despite a global media and sporting storm, Fifa president Sepp Blatter is seeking re-election for a fifth term, with the only challenge coming from Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein. | |
| The vote takes place at the Fifa World Congress meeting in Zurich, Switzerland. | |
| 'Mutual assistance' | |
| The SFO said it was not willing to comment further on the nature of material in its possession or current activity in this area. | The SFO said it was not willing to comment further on the nature of material in its possession or current activity in this area. |
| It added that it had not launched a formal criminal investigation. But it said there were two ways in which it could get involved - if the SFO opened a formal criminal investigation itself or provided "mutual legal assistance" to overseas law enforcement. | |
| It also says it has made plain to both US and Swiss authorities that it stands ready to assist. | |
| "There are currently international criminal investigations into allegations of corruption at Fifa. As such it would be inappropriate for the SFO to comment on the matter at this time," it said. | |
| In November the SFO asked for anyone with information regarding alleged corruption in the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to come forward. | In November the SFO asked for anyone with information regarding alleged corruption in the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to come forward. |
| However, it will not now say if its current actions relate to either of the above tournaments. | |