June 23 – Former Conmebol president Juan Angel Napout and Brazilian FA (CBF) boss Jose Maria Marin have had their appeals dismissed by a US court against their sentences for their roles in the FIFAGate scandals.
The second district court in New York yesterday confirmed the sentences of both former football administrators on appeal. The two South Americans argued that convictions were “impermissible” as the incidents took place outside the United States, but the judge dismissed that line of reasoning, citing that there was enough evidence for the conviction.
As a result, Napout (pictured) will have to serve the remainder of his nine-year sentence, the longest sentence so far of any of the accused in the FIFAGate, a scandal that destroyed the world federation’s reputation.
In 2017, the Paraguayan was found guilty on charges of racketeering and wire fraud in relation to awarding TV rights for some of South America’s major football events in exchange for bribes. A judge denied Napout an early release because of the risk of he would violate house arrest and flee.
In March, Marin was granted an early release on humanitarian grounds. His lawyer argued that the Brazilian, 88, was at risk of contracting the coronavirus as an elder member of the prison population. The Brazilian was almost halfway through his four-year prison sentence for accepting bribes.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735135387labto1735135387ofdlr1735135387owedi1735135387sni@o1735135387fni1735135387