Two officials guilty

Two top international soccer officials were found guilty Friday for their roles in a web of corruption that extended across several continents and ensnared dozens of men who control the world’s most popular sport. A jury in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday convicted Juan Ángel Napout of Paraguay, the former top soccer official of South America, who was accused of accepting $10.5 million in bribes since 2010; and José Maria Marin, the former top soccer official of Brazil, who was accused of accepting $6.55 million. Marin was found guilty on six counts of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Napout was found guilty on three counts of racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. The verdicts against Napout and Marin partially resolved the trial in the United States’ case focused on FIFA, the governing body of international soccer that was thrown into chaos when allegations were announced in 2015. Several high-ranking soccer officials were accused of accepting bribes from marketing companies that wanted to obtain commercial rights to major competitions. More than 20 defendants had pleaded guilty as a result of the yearslong investigation run by the Justice Department in coordination with the FBI and IRS. But the officials who

stood trial this month were in the minority as they fought the evidence laid out by the government.