The newly-appointed leader of Guatemala's soccer federation is the brother of a prominent drug trafficker, according to a new report.

The National Soccer Federation of Guatemala tapped Milton Mendoza to act as its interim president on Dec. 7, the federation announced in a press release.

The FBI indicted Brayan Jiménez, the federation's previous president, among 15 other FIFA officials from 10 Latin American countries on racketeering and conspiracy charges on Dec. 3. Jiménez is a member of the FIFA Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility.

Mendoza was previously the Guatemalan soccer federation's spokesperson, Spanish news agency EFE reported.

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However, an analysis by InSight Crime pegs Milton Mendoza as the brother of Haroldo Mendoza Matta, the alleged leader of the Mendoza drug trafficking group in Guatemala.

EFE reported that Haroldo Mendoza Matta was arrested in November 2014 and is accused of leading the organization and presiding over killings, kidnappings, thefts and crop burning in the Guatemalan towns of Izabal and Peten.

InSight Crime previously reported that the organization could have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

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The publication noted that Milton Mendoza's ascendancy can be attributed to strong ties between soccer and organized crime in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

"For drug traffickers, owning a soccer team provides a way to launder illicit money and shield themselves from legal scrutiny by building up local support and establishing, or expanding, connections to business and political figures," the publication wrote.

The U.S. men's soccer team will face Guatemala in two World Cup qualifying matches in March, according to CONCACAF.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports