Brazilian police began investigating allegations of corruption in its soccer industry on Thursday, prompted by the arrests of top officials at world soccer body FIFA in a US bribery probe.

And the country's Senate, led by former national soccer star Romario, who is now a prominent legislator, moved to open a formal inquiry into alleged bribes paid to obtain contracts with the Brazilian Soccer Federation (CBF).

"There is no other alternative. Either these guys all go to prison or they will continue sucking the blood out of Brazilian football until its final death," said Romario, who led Brazil's national team to World Cup victory in 1994 and has since become an outspoken critic of corruption in soccer.