Swiss federal prosecutor to address FIFA World Cup bids case

AP

BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Switzerland's federal prosecutor will talk about his criminal investigation of FIFA's 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid contests for the first time on Wednesday.

The office of Attorney-General Michael Lauber says he will make a statement about the case at a news conference in Bern.

Lauber's department raided FIFA headquarters to seize evidence on May 27.

On the same day, Swiss authorities raided a Zurich hotel and arrested seven officials linked to FIFA for a separate United States federal investigation of bribery and racketeering.

The Swiss case is targeting possible criminal mismanagement and money laundering in bidding campaigns won by Russia and Qatar, respectively.

FIFA began the case by filing a criminal complaint last November.

Lauber's office is using an investigation report by FIFA's former ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia.