Switzerland authorities said in Wednesday that criminal proceedings against high-ranked FIFA officials on suspicion of corruption and bribery had been opened.
Switzerland's Office of the Attorney General also said in a statement that police had seized documents and data during a raid of FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
"Everything that’s happening in Zurich is first and foremost tied with the choices of hosting World Cup-2022 and how Qatar won the football festivities," the source said.
He said that the final decision to arrest the officials and conduct searches was made by the United States and practically does not concern Russia’s host bid for 2018.
Highly-ranked FIFA officials arrested for corruption are charged with receiving over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks, the US Justice Department said in a statement on Wednesday.
"All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments," the statement said.
FBI head James Comey said in a statement that the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed.
