A heavy cloud hangs over the world's most popular sport as American and Swiss law enforcers dig into extensive bribes allegedly paid over two decades to leaders of soccer's worldwide governing organization. The U.S. Justice Department recently announced criminal indictments of five corporate executives and nine officials in the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), including its vice president. Seven FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, at the Americans' request. (Soccer is called football in other countries.)

Payoffs came from countries wanting to host World Cup matches and other lucrative events, as well as from TV networks and marketers seeking broadcast and sponsorship preferences, the charges say. In all, according to U.S. authorities, bribes totaled $150 million over 24 years. "The defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world," says FBI Director James Comey. "Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA."

Critical evidence comes from Chuck Blazer, a U.S. citizen and FIFA executive committee member from 1997 until 2013, when he pleaded guilty to corruption. Freshly unsealed testimony shows Blazer told a federal judge in New York that he and others agreed to accept bribes in bidding for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups and other tournaments. The Swiss-based federation’s president, who’s not charged, abruptly said last week he’ll step aside this year. "FIFA needs a profound restructuring," says Sepp Blatter, recently re-elected to a fifth term as preisdent

U.S. attorney general says: "Corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted – both abroad and here in the United States – spans at least two generations of soccer officials." – Loretta Lynch

Federation leader says: "I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for football. . . . What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner." – Sepp Blatter, announcing his departure as president

Investigative reporter says: "The rest of the media gets far too cozy with them. It's wrong. . . . I know that they are criminal scum, and I've known it for years. These scum have stolen the people's sport." – Andrew Jennings of Britain, author of two books about FIFA