In the Press: Football rocked by arrests of seven FIFA governing officials

The Times of Malta

The world of football was rocked to its core as seven of FIFA’s governing officials were arrested by Swiss police and are expected to be extradited to the US. Charges include money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud over the last 20 years. FIFA members were gathering in Zurich for their annual meeting on Friday.

In-Nazzjon

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil denies allegations made by Gozo works for votes whistleblower Joe Cauchi, and files a judicial protest claiming that Cauchi’s lies under oath should result in the removal of the protection whistleblowers would normally enjoy. The protest is signed by lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona, and it denies the allegations made by Cauchi that Busuttil had met with him over the party’s failure to pay him for his work. In court, Cauchi also said that Busuttil had questioned why he had carried out the works although it was clear the party would lose the general election.

L-Orizzont                    

The European Commission publishes proposals for comprehensive action over illegal immigration. The proposals will be ratified in the Council by next June. The proposals included better management of illegal immigration and that Malta should get 175 migrants from Italy and 117 Syrian or Eritrean migrants from Greece. Malta will also be getting €6,000 per migrant it receives.

The Malta Independent

The European Commission’s emergency relocation plan  could see Malta accepting asylum seekers from Italy and Greece, but Malta would be helped in a similar way of faced with sudden refugee influxes. The paper also features the beginning of an investigation into claims made by a number of American investors that they lost some $600,000 in what should have been life savings through a scam allegedly involving two companies registered at John Dalli’s home address.