South American game was run for personal gain, says head

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) President Alejandro Dominguez speaks to the media as he takes part at the Conmebol Extraordinary Congress as part of the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City, Mexico, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Henry Romero

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - South America soccer was run as a fiefdom by a few leading officials for personal gain before they were brought to account by U.S. law enforcement, the head of the regional governing body CONMEBOL said on Wednesday.

The Paraguay-based CONMEBOL, many of whose officials were indicted in the U.S.-led investigation into corruption at world football's governing body FIFA last year, had no books prior to 2013 and enjoyed diplomatic immunity, Alejandro Dominguez said.