MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIFA corruption: Argentine indicted businessman pleads not guilty in US court

Burzaco is one of nine soccer officials and five marketing executives accused by the US Justice of exploiting the sport through bribes of more than $150 million

The former chairman of an Argentina-based sports marketing business, one of 14 people indicted in a corruption case that has rattled the soccer world's governing body FIFA, pleaded not guilty in US federal court on Friday.

 Alejandro Burzaco, a 51-year-old Argentine businessman and former general manager and chairman of Torneos y Competencias SA, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, after being extradited to the United States from Italy.

He turned himself in to police in northern Italy on June 9. He had previously indicated he would not fight his extradition to the United States.

Burzaco was one of nine soccer officials and five marketing executives accused by the US Justice Department of exploiting the sport for their own gain through bribes of more than $150 million over 24 years.

His arrival in the United States makes Burzaco the third defendant to date to be arraigned on the indictment, which was announced on May 27.

Jeffrey Webb, the former FIFA vice president and president of the CONCACAF regional soccer federation, was extradited from Switzerland earlier this month and pleaded not guilty.

Aaron Davidson, who was the head of Brazilian sports marketing company Traffic Group's US unit in Miami, had been arrested in Miami when the indictment was first announced. US officials recently disclosed he was in plea negotiations.