US round-up begins with El Salvador to hand over Vasquez, Mesnier hands himself in

Reynaldo Vasquez

December 10 – El Salvador’s Supreme Court has approved the extradition of the country’s former football federation president Reynaldo Vasquez (pictured), one of those wanted in the United States in connection with the widespread racketeering and bribery scandal.

Supreme Court judge Sidney Blanco said the extradition order was approved by 15 judges following an arrest warrant from US authorities.

Vasquez, who headed the Salvadoran football federation FESFUT between 2009 and 2010, is wanted in connection with five cases of alleged bribery linked to commercial deals for the broadcasting of qualifiers for the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

In interviews with local media, he has described the allegations as “absurd” and said he was taking legal advice.

Meanwhile, Jose Luis Meiszner, who stepped down as secretary-general of CONMEBOL last week, has turned himself in to Argentine police, according to local media, after he too was charged by the US justice department.

News Channel TN showed Meiszner arriving at a police station in Quilmes just south of the capital Buenos Aires.

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