Mabosi FIFA mbaroni

The arrests come ahead of the FIFA Congress in which the new president was due to be elected. 

Sepp Blatter, who is seeking re-election, is not believed to be among those arrested 

Six high-ranking FIFA executives were arrested this morning over allegations of widespread corruption involving sponsorship bids over the past 25 years. Vice president Jeffrey Webb is believed to be among those arrested 

Six high-ranking FIFA executives including the vice-president were arrested this morning during a dramatic dawn raid at a five-star hotel in Switzerland over allegations of widespread corruption involving bribes totalling more than £60m over the past 25 years.

More than a dozen plain-clothed Swiss police officers arrived unannounced at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich at around 6am before storming the rooms where senior officials from the world football's governing body were staying. 

Members from the executive committee were then led away by police through the side exit of the hotel, with many using bedsheets to shield themselves from the public eye

Eduardo Li, from Costa Rica (pictured) was also arrested, as was Worawi Makudi from Thailand (not pictured)

Among those believed to be arrested are vice president of the executive committee Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, who is also an executive committee vice president and Jack Warner, a former member of the executive committee.

Worawi Makudi from Thailand and Eduardo Li from Costa Rica are also said to be among those arrested. 

Sepp Blatter, the controversial president of the organisation, is not believed to have been held.

The arrests, which came ahead of the FIFA Congress on Friday, involved members of FIFA's executive committee, which holds significant power and does most of its business largely in secret.

Sepp Blatter was not among the men arrested, Fifa spokesman Walter de Gregorio told the Associated Press.

FIFA Elections

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) issued a statement saying the arrests had been made at the request of US authorities.

"The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating these individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day," the FOJ statement read.

"The bribery suspects - representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms - are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to the soccer functionaries - delegates of FIFA and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organisations - totaling more than $100 million.

"In return, it is believed that they received media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America."

Daily Mail, Aljazeera