U.S. attorney general announces fresh charges, arrests anticipated in FIFA corruption scandal

The U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into the corruption scandal that has engulfed FIFA is nowhere near completion.

Speaking in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday, the U.S. attorney general, Loretta Lynch, revealed that new arrests and charges against "individuals and entities" are expected in the criminal case, almost certainly stemming from the FBI's examination of football's governing body.

In May, the U.S. Department of Justice announced indictments against 18 individuals, including 14 FIFA officials, on football-related corruption charges, to which four have pleaded guilty.

"Separate and apart from the pending indictment, our investigation has expanded since May," Lynch said, according to the Press Association. "The scope of our investigation is not limited as is following the evidence where it leads. We do anticipate pursuing additional changes against individuals and entities."

Lynch's comments were made alongside the Swiss attorney general, Michael Lauber, who is leading a separate investigation of potential money laundering involving FIFA and who confirmed an inquiry into president Sepp Blatter's sale of World Cup television rights to disgraced former official Jack Warner for a fraction of its true value.

Related: Report - Former FIFA exec Jack Warner made $17M profit from TV rights deal

Mark Pieth, a Swiss professor of criminal law, argued Monday that Blatter should face a criminal investigation for his sale of the television rights, saying: "Blatter has to defend himself against a form of embezzlement charges. That's a topic they need to discuss."

Lauber also declared that assets, including flats in Switzerland, have been seized during his investigation into FIFA on suspicion of being used for money-laundering purposes and that 121 bank accounts have been brought to his task force's attention.