By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – Nicolas Leoz, one of the most prominent powerbrokers caught up in the FIFA corruption scandal, has suffered a significant setback in his fight to avoid extradition to the United States.
The 86-year-old former head of CONMEBOL was among the longest-serving officials cited in the US Justice Department indictment involving widespread money laundering and racketeering by senior footballing and marketing officials over two generations. He has been under house arrest in Asunción, Paraguay, since June 1 but a judge has now turned down a bid by his lawyers to keep him from being extradited.
Leoz was CONMEBOL president from 1986-2013 and a prominent member of FIFA’s executive committee. He has denied all allegations against him and his legal team say he will appeal the latest ruling on the grounds that he has not committed any crime in Paraguay, meaning the case is likely to drag on for considerably longer.
Two years ago, Leoz suddenly quit CONMEBOL and the FIFA exco citing ill-health. He timed his decision just ahead of being cited for having taken World Cup kickbacks in his dealings with ISL, FIFA’s former marketing partner. Uruguayan Eugenio Figueredo took over as acting president of CONMEBOL but he, too, was one of those named in the US indictment in May that plunged FIFA into unprecedented crisis.
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