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Brazilian president, soccer confederation back FIFA graft probe

Brazil’s president and the country’s soccer confederation voice support for a probe into FIFA's graft scandal.

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A view of the building of Brazil’s soccer confederation CBF in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, May 27, 2015 (© AFP)

Brazil’s president and the country’s soccer confederation, CBF, have voiced support for an ongoing international corruption investigation against the world soccer governing body, FIFA.

“I think all inquiries into this issue are very important. I think this can only benefit Brazil,” said President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday during an official trip to Mexico.

Some current and former FIFA officials are being investigated in a massive bribery scandal.

Rousseff, whose country hosted the 2014 World Cup, said, “I think if we do investigate, we have to investigate all cups, all activities.”

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff delivers a speech at the Senate building in Mexico, where she is on a state visit, May 27, 2015. (© AFP)

CBF, the Brazilian Football Confederation, also said in a statement that “the organization will await in a responsible manner its conclusion without prejudice.”

George Hilton, Brazil’s minister of sport, announced in a speech in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, that the government expected that the probe would “establish the truth” of the corruption claims and would have those found responsible for illegal behavior “punished in accordance with the law.”

US officials revealed an indictment claiming that nine current and former FIFA officials and five other individuals engaged in a $151 million bribery scheme for over two decades.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the Miami offices of FIFA on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, after Swiss authorities arrested seven suspects. (© AFP)

The crimes were organized in the US, and bribes were paid via US banks, said the Swiss Justice Ministry in a statement on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, police arrested seven FIFA officials in Switzerland on alleged fraud charges.

Swiss authorities were also investigating the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which are to be held in Russia and Qatar.

The 47-count indictment released by the US earlier this week alleges that, for over two decades, soccer officials of working with sports advertising decision-makers shut out opponents and kept well-paid deals for themselves.

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