US Judge Drops Long-Running FIFA Bribery Case as DOJ Shifts Focus

A US federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against former Fox International Channels CEO Hernan Lopez and Argentine sports marketing firm Full Play Group SA. The Justice Department said the prosecution no longer aligns with its current enforcement priorities. The decision arrived on the anniversary of the 2015 Swiss raids that launched the global FIFA corruption probe. That initial crackdown led to charges against 14 defendants accused of paying tens of millions in bribes for World Cup broadcast rights. Although a 2023 federal jury convicted Lopez and Full Play, Judge Pamela Chen overturned the verdict on narrow fraud definitions. The 2nd Circuit later reinstated the convictions, but the DOJ formally moved to drop the indictment in December. Leaving court, Lopez expressed relief at finally ending what he called a six-year ordeal. The Justice Department clarified it will not seek to reopen other convictions secured over the past decade.

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