Investigators in the U.S. and Switzerland announced Monday that they expect more indictments in the sweeping FIFA corruption probe, suggesting that the pool of arrested soccer officials would soon expand.
Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber said that a number of searches had been conducted in western Switzerland and that some assets, including apartments in the Swiss Alps, had been seized as part of the probe.
"Investments in real estate can be misused for the purpose of money laundering," he said of the seizures, adding that it was too early to name a "specific figure of frozen assets."
"We are well aware of the public’s interest in this investigation and have clearly prioritized based on the interests at stake," he said. "But clearly: we are not even near the half-time break."
Lynch then said that the investigation had "expanded" since the chargers were first announced in May, when the Department of Justice charged 14 officials with bribery and corruption, shocking the world of international soccer.
"Our investigation remains active and ongoing, and has in fact expanded," she said. "As I made clear at our initial announcement, the scope of our investigation is not limited, and we are following the evidence where it leads."
"I am grateful for the significant cooperation and substantial evidence that we have received from all quarters. Based upon that cooperation and new evidence, we anticipate pursuing additional charges against individuals and entities."
Lynch refused to say if one of those individuals was FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who has faced calls for his resignation and been targeted by protesters who say he, too, is corrupt.
In closing out her remarks, Lynch addressed officials at the sport's governing body directly: "To anyone who seeks to live in the past and to return soccer to the days of corruption and bribery, cronyism and patronage, this global response sends a clear message: You are on the wrong side of progress and do a disservice to the integrity of this wonderful sport."