Millions of Swiss francs in bank accounts belonging to world soccer’s governing body FIFA has been frozen, the Swiss justice ministry has said.
US officials believe “corruption money” may have been transited through the frozen accounts, the ministry claimed.
Between 50m and 100m Swiss francs ($50.1m-100.2m; £34m-£67m) has been frozen, media reports say.
Meanwhile, suspended FIFA president, Sepp Blatter is appearing before the organisation’s ethics committee.
Blatter, who is due to depart from FIFA on February 26 when his successor will be elected, arrived at the governing body’s headquarters in Zurich in a chauffeur-driven car accompanied by one of his lawyers.
He is strongly pleading his innocence over corruption allegations being heard in front of the committee, made up of four judges. They are expected to make a ruling early next week.
The ethics investigation was launched following the decision by the Swiss attorney general to instigate criminal proceedings against Mr Blatter over a $2m (1.34m; €1.84m) payment to European soccer chief Michel Platini in 2011. Both men deny any wrongdoing.
Along with Platini, Blatter was suspended in October from participating in all soccer-related activity for 90 days pending a full inquiry into their conduct.