(CNN) Football is back in the headlines -- but for all the wrong reasons.
Yes, that's right, FIFA, the organization responsible for running the game, is in a sticky situation just two days before its own presidential election.
On Wednesday, seven FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies involving millions of dollars.
One of those arrested was FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb.
In total, the FBI says that nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives have been charged.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation led by the Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cup were awarded has also started.
FIFA has already stated that Russia, hosts in 2018 and Qatar, which will hold the 2022 event, will keep hold of their respective roles.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is not under investigation and is set to contest the presidential election against Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein.
But why should you care? Here's our quick handy guide with everything you need to know.
What is FIFA?
FIFA, or Federation Internationale de Football Association, as it's known in French, is the governing body of world soccer and has been since its formation in Parios on May 21 1904.
There are 209 members, which is more than there are in the United Nations, which has 193.
FIFA is responsible for running and promoting the game around the globe with its premier competition, the World Cup, held every four years.
Under Blatter the organization has also invested money in developing grassroots football -- working with soccer federations across the world to build pitches and improve facilities.
FIFA also runs a number of other tournaments including the Women's World Cup, tournaments for both men and women at different age groups and rules on various disputes within the game, for example, the world governing body introduced goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup.
Who's in charge?
The man in charge is Blatter -- a 79-year-old Swiss who is aiming for his fifth successive term in office if he wins Friday's presidential election.
Blatter has been at the top of world football for the past 17-years, but his image has been tarnished by the organization's constant ability to attract negative headlines.
Elected in 1998, Blatter heads the executive committee, which consists of eight vice-presidents and 15 members, all of whom are appointed by associations and confederations.
He has also managed to court controversy with some of his remarks, such as claiming female footballers should wear shorter shorts.
On Sunday, Blatter jokingly likened his stickability at FIFA to the resilience of a mountain goat.
Here are a few more of his famous gaffes in a gallery -- click away.
Sepp Blatter: A controversial leader
FIFA president Sepp Blatter's 2011 remarks on racism in football -- that on-pitch abuse can be solved with a handshake -- were just one of a series of controversial quotes to be attributed to the head of world soccer.
In 2004, Blatter -- seen here with Brazil star Marta -- angered female footballers with his suggestion for how the women's game could be made more appealing. "They could, for example, have tighter shorts," said the Swiss. "Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball."
In 2008 Blatter was ridiculed after defending the desire of Manchester United's highly-paid star Cristiano Ronaldo to join Real Madrid. He said: "I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere." In 2013 he had to apologize to Ronaldo after a bizarre impersonation of the Madrid star.
Blatter performed a U-turn on the use of goal-line technology and apologized to the English Football Association after an incorrect decision during the 2010 World Cup. Despite replays showing a shot from England's Frank Lampard had clearly crossed the line in the last-16 clash with Germany, the goal was not awarded.
Blatter had earlier refused to take action when Thierry Henry's blatant handball denied the Republic of Ireland a place at the 2010 World Cup finals. Even the France striker admitted the fairest solution was to replay the playoff match.
In December 2010, Blatter was heavily criticized for suggesting gay football fans should "refrain from sexual activity" if they wished to attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. Blatter later apologized and said it had not been his intention to offend or discriminate.
Blatter clashed with fellow members of FIFA's executive committee when he suggested the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be played in January to avoid high temperatures in Qatar. He said the move would "protect the players and also the spectators." Qatar flatly rejected Blatter's suggestion at the time, but FIFA is now reviewing whether to adopt it.
In December 2010 Blatter insisted that FIFA was "not corrupt ... there are no rotten eggs" despite two of his executive committee members -- Amos Adamu, pictured, and Reynald Temarii -- being suspended for accepting bribes in the lead-up to the vote for awarding hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He called England "bad losers" after losing out to Russia.
Blatter stood unopposed for re-election in July after his former ally Mohamed bin Hammam quit the race days before the ballot after being accused of offering cash for votes. The Qatari, a top FIFA official, has been banned from football.
Blatter faced a criminal investigation after winning the 2002 FIFA presidential election, being accused of financial mismanagement by 11 former members of the ruling body's executive committee, including his 1998 election rival Lennart Johansson, right. However, prosecutors dropped the case due to a lack of evidence.
In January 2013, AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team off the pitch after being subjected to racist chanting. His actions were hailed across the world. But Blatter was more cautious about the issue, refusing to support the move. "I don't think you can run away, because eventually you can run away if you lose a match," he said in an interview with a newspaper in the UAE. "This issue is a very touchy subject, but I repeat there is zero tolerance of racism in the stadium; we have to go against that." Others, like AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, have disagreed with him. "I am of the opposite view (to Blatter)," said Berlusconi. "I thanked and congratulated my players for their decision to leave the field."
Why does FIFA get such bad press?
FIFA's image has been battered and bruised -- particularly over the last five years -- by a series of scandals and repeated allegations of corruption.
While it has always denied any wrongdoing, it's secretive nature has ensured suspicions of wrongdoing just won't go away, notably over the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
In December 2014, FIFA's ethics committee said it was finishing its investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the award of those two tournaments to Russia and Qatar.
According to the committee, the investigation found no corruption and claimed there was no reason to reopen the bidding process, despite former New York prosecutor, Michael Garcia, the man hired by FIFA to conduct an internal probe, criticized the organization over its findings.
And it appears the FBI could be like a dog with a bone with its own investigation.
The fallout of the 2010 decision to award Russia and Qatar the next two World Cups continues to reverberate around FIFA.
In 2011, the organization gave Mohamed bin Hammam, a Qatari member of its top governing body, a lifelong ban for ethics violations.
In the latest developments on Wednesday, Swiss authorities stated that they have opened a separate criminal investigation into FIFA's operations pertaining to the 2018 and 2022 bids.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland said it is looking into criminal mismanagement and money laundering.
Check out the gallery below to find out more about some of the men who have been charged.
FIFA officials face corruption charges
A number of FIFA officials were arrested Wednesday at the five-star hotel Baur au Lac in an early-morning raid. Prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for 14 people in the corruption probe and the U.S. investigation targets alleged wrongdoing over 24 years. The charges range from money laundering to fraud and racketeering.
The 83-year-old Uruguayan is a FIFA vice president and executive committee member. Figueredo is a former South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president and ex-Uruguayan soccer federation (AUF) president.
Brazilian Jose Maria Marin, 83, is a member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments and a former Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president.
The 68-year-old Rafael Esquivel is a current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation president.
The 50-year-old Jeffrey Webb is a FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF -- the North American regional body for the world governing body -- president, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executive committee member and Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) president.
The 86-year-old Paraguayan Nicolas Leoz is a former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president.
Costan Rican Eduardo Li, 56, is a current FIFA executive committee member-elect, CONCACAF executive committee member and Costa Rican soccer federation (FEDEFUT) president.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, the 72-year-old Jack Warner is a former FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser.
FIFA is due to hold a presidential election on Friday.
Corruption allegations relating to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively, have damaged FIFA and by extension Blatter's credibility.
What happens now?
That's the question everyone is asking.
First of all will Friday's presidential election still take place?
According to Stewart Regan, head of the Scottish Football Association, it could yet be delayed.
FIFA has already said that neither Russia nor Qatar will be stripped of their World Cups.
And on the presidential contest, FIFA spokesman Walter De Gregorio told a press conference that: "The president (Sepp Blatter) is not involved, how can you say he has to step down? He is the president, if he is re-elected then he is the president for the next four years."
Of the investigations, De Gregorio added: "This is good for FIFA. It hurts, it is not easy, but it confirms we are on the right track."
All eyes will now be on the U.S. investigation and the the progress it makes following the arrests.
Whatever happens, this is one story that's likely to have many more chapters written.
Read the report
Read: U.S. arrests officials; Switzerland opens separate probe
Read: Why women weren't good enough for World Cup report