FIFA was thrown into turmoil Wednesday when senior office holders from the Americas were among officials arrested by Swiss police at the request of U.S. authorities in a luxury Zurich hotel to face racketeering charges.
News of the criminal investigation on both sides of the Atlantic comes 10 days before the 2015 Women’s World Cup kicks off. The 24-team tournament runs though July 5 in Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.
Carrie Serwetnyk, a former player on Canada’s women’s national soccer team, is sad to see corruption charges mar the Beautiful Game ahead of the biggest event in women’s soccer.
“It feels a bit like your father was part of the mafia and has just been sent to jail,” said Serwetnyk.
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The U.S. government launched an attack on what it called deep-seated and brazen corruption in soccer’s global governing body Wednesday, pulling FIFA executives out of a luxury Swiss hotel to face racketeering charges and raiding regional offices in Miami.
Swiss officials also invaded FIFA headquarters, seizing records and computers to investigate whether the decisions to award World Cups to Russia and Qatar were rigged.
Critics say the allegations come at the worst possible time for Canada, which hosts the FIFA Women’s World Cup starting June 6 with the final being held at BC Place.
READ MORE: Former FIFA executive who played big role in Canadian soccer charged
“I’m sure the organizers are just burying their heads right now because this is going to tag along in the World Cup,” said Serwetnyk.
“Now we have this cloud hanging over the tournament, in which we’ll be asking other questions beyond what’s happening on the field,” said Vancouver-based journalist Bob Mackin.
FIFA tournament staff wouldn’t comment, referring instead to the Canadian Soccer Association, which denies the 2015 tournament will be impacted by the scandal.
“As the host nation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, the Canadian Soccer Association is confident that the current situation will not impact the competition,” it said.
-with files from Jeremy Hunka, Canadian Press and Associated Press
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