A federal judge in Brooklyn dismissed indictments against former Fox executive Hernán López and Argentine sports marketing firm Full Play Group in the long-running FIFA corruption investigation. The ruling by Judge Pamela K. Chen ends a convoluted legal saga that began with jury convictions in 2023.

The Justice Department had moved to dismiss the charges in December, citing "interests of justice" - a rare about-face that followed years of legal wrangling. Both defendants saw their convictions reversed and reinstated by federal judges before prosecutors ultimately abandoned the case.

López and Full Play were accused of participating in schemes to pay millions in bribes to FIFA officials for commercial rights to major tournaments, including Copa América and Copa Libertadores. Prosecutors alleged López's actions helped Fox secure lucrative World Cup broadcasting rights for 2018, 2022 and 2026 in the United States.

The dismissal closes a notable chapter in the decade-old scandal that exposed systemic corruption in international soccer governance. While FIFA has moved to restore its reputation, the case highlights ongoing questions about business practices in global sports marketing and broadcasting deals worth billions.