By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – The most dramatic election build-up in FIFA history has taken yet another unexpected twist when the head of Brazil’s national federation and a senior FIFA official fled Switzerland a few hours before the ballot.
FIFA Executive committee member Marco Polo Del Nero flew out of the country two days after his predecessor Jose Maria Marin was one of the seven FIFA offocials arrested as part of the US-led anti-corruption probe.
Marin, along with all the others arrested including CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, is reported to be fighting extradition to the United States and faces charges including racketeering and the acceptance of more than $20m in bribes.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that Del Nero, who was staying at the Baur de Lac hotel where FIFA’s top brass are based and where Wednesday’s dawn raid took place, had departed the country but no immediate motive was given.
Del Nero was not mentioned in the Department of Justice’s 47-count indictment against 14 individuals.
The 83-year-old Marin a possible jail sentence of up to 20 years in jail if found guilty of charges arising out of commercial deals linked to international football tournaments in the Americas.
Brazil’s vote for either Sepp Blatter or Prince Ali bin al-Hussein may still be cast at FIFA Congress by one of the other two members of its official delegation.
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