Football: Peru federation chief Oviedo under investigation, say officials

Peruvian Football Federation president Edwin Oviedo. PHOTO: REUTERS

LIMA (AFP) - The Peruvian authorities have opened a probe into the current head of the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) and 65 other people related to the corruption scandal rocking Fifa, officials said on Tuesday (Dec 15).

A source familiar with the case said prosecutors were examining bank accounts, income and expenses of the FPF and some of its leaders on suspicion of using sports activities to launder money.

They include Edwin Oviedo, the federation's current head, and its sports manager, Antonio Garcia Pye, as well as heads and former heads of several Peruvian clubs, according to a list seen by AFP.

Prosecutors were reportedly trying to determine whether they were part of a money-laundering scheme allegedly headed by former federation chief Manuel Burga, who was arrested earlier this month on an international arrest warrant.

Burga is among 16 men whose indictments were announced in Washington on Dec 3 amid a widening multi-million dollar corruption scandal engulfing world football governing body Fifa.

They are all from the South American Football Federation (Conmebol) and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf).

Burga, who is awaiting extradition to the United States, was alleged to have received payments from the owner of TV TyC, Alejandro Bruzaco, in return for rights to air various editions of the Copa America tournament.

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