Israel's Bank Hapoalim says cooperating with US FIFA corruption probe

Hapoalim says US probe looking into suspects' bank accounts; US has indicted at least 14 people.

By REUTERS
A Bank Hapoalim branch in Tel Aviv (photo credit: REUTERS)
A Bank Hapoalim branch in Tel Aviv
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Israel's Bank Hapoalim said it is cooperating with a probe by US authorities into alleged corruption involving officials from world soccer's governing body, FIFA.
A US investigation has indicted at least 14 people, including former FIFA officials, on charges of money laundering and racketeering, and Hapoalim said the probe was looking into accounts held by some of the suspects with the bank.
"Within the framework of cooperation by the bank with the investigation in this matter, it has come to the bank's attention that the American authorities are investigating the involvement of various banks, among them, the Bank Hapoalim Group," it said in a statement.
In addition to the US probe, Swiss authorities are looking into cases related to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.
FIFA's independent ethics committee is probing "many" cases of suspected corruption and expects to issue life bans for all but minor offenses, a source familiar with the matter has said.