MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
US asks Switzerland for extradition of seven FIFA officials on bribery charges
The list includes former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and FIFA vice-president Eugenio Figueredo from Uruguay (L) 
US prosecutors say the investigation exposes complex money laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed incomes and in offshore accounts The United States asked Switzerland on Thursday to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested in an investigation into a global bribery scandal at soccer's governing body, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) announced.
The move marks the start of a legal process expected to last several months during which the officials, who have been in jail since being detained on US arrest warrants in May, will either keep fighting extradition to the United States or agree to go.
The arrests of the seven, including two then-members of FIFA's executive committee, took place in a raid on a luxury Zurich hotel on May 27, two days before FIFA's annual congress, pitching the organization into turmoil.
US prosecutors say their investigation - which is running parallel to a separate Swiss inquiry - exposes complex money laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed incomes and tens of millions in offshore accounts held by FIFA officials.
The seven were among 14 people charged in cases involving more than $150 million in bribes over a period of 24 years. Those being held in Switzerland include Jeffrey Webb, the former president of FIFA's Americas confederation CONCACAF, and Eugenio Figueredo, from Uruguay who sat on the executive at the time of their arrest. He also holds a US citizenship. Another high profile official is Brazilian football association ex chief Jose Maria Marin.
The United States Department of Justice brought charges on racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering. It was dubbed the “World Cup of corruption” by Richard Weber, chief of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit.
Having already objected to extradition, the seven men, currently being held prisons in the Zurich region will be granted hearings and given 14 days to respond to the extradition requests. This time limit may be extended by 14 days “if sufficient grounds exist”.
The Federal Office of Justice said it would rule on extradition “within a few weeks” but confirmed its decisions “may be challenged before the Federal Criminal Court, as well as before the Federal Supreme Court, as the ultimate court of appeal”.
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Read all commentsIf they know that they are NOT GUILTY why would they not go to the USA and clear their names ? I would, or do they think the charges are as corrupt as they are.
Jul 03rd, 2015 - 08:47 am 0If not mistaken, the 7 (seven) FIFA officials all come from countries where Justice is, at its best, not much more than a myth........now that they stand to be tried in the US, where Justice is slightly different, they are all shitting their pants.
Jul 03rd, 2015 - 06:51 pm 0The crook from Uruguay is probably wondering what he did wrong, after all he only took money he was entitled to, didn't he?
Jul 03rd, 2015 - 07:42 pm 0I wouldn't use that defence in the US though, they are grown-ups there and know right from wrong and are capable of enforcing the matter, not gullible children like the football fans of Uruguay.
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