Timeline of a stunning day
6amMore than a dozen plain-clothed police officers arrest FIFA officials at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich.
7.18am Swiss authorities confirm six men, including FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, have been arrested on suspicion of bribery. A FIFA spokesman says Sepp Blatter is not involved.
7.51am A list of 14 names emerges — nine FIFA executives and five sports marketing executives — all charged with crimes in the US. 9.40am In a separate investigation, Swiss officials say they will question 10 FIFA executives who voted on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich are raided. 10.19am FIFA spokesman Walter De Gregorio (right) hosts a bizarre press conference, saying Friday’s presidential election will go ahead, as will the World Cups in Russia and Qatar, and president Sepp Blatter is ‘relaxed’, despite the news.
11.13amThe
US Department of Justice says seven, not six, men were arrested. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch says FIFA’s corruption is ‘rampant’.
11.50am FA chairman Greg Dyke says the allegations are ‘very serious for FIFA and its current leadership’.
11.55am FIFA issues its own statement, saying the investigations will ‘help to reinforce measures FIFA has already taken’.
12.50pm A list emerges of the 10 FIFA executive committee members who will be questioned over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.
1.03pm Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, one of the 14 accused men, says: ‘I am innocent of any charges’.
2.22pm Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein (below), Blatter’s only presidential rival, tweets: ‘FIFA needs leadership that governs, guides and protects our national associations.’ 2.25pm Russia sports minister and FIFA executive Vitaly Mutko says: ‘We’re prepared to show everything. We’ve always acted within the law.’
3.35pm Kelly Currie, acting US attorney in the Eastern District of New York, says their investigation is ‘only the beginning’. James Comey, director of the FBI, says football was ‘hijacked’.
6.28pm UEFA call for Friday’s FIFA presidential election to be postponed, a huge blow to Blatter. 7.02pm Blatter releases a statement saying it is ‘a difficult time for football’ but welcomes yesterday’s developments. He says: ‘Such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure those who engage in it are put out of the game.’