July 9 – Disgraced former Conmebol president Juan Angel Napout has again petitioned court in the US to obtain an early release from prison because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Paraguayan is serving a nine-year sentence for his role in the FIFAGate scandal.
In April, the 62-year-old former football official requested an early release on the grounds of risk from the coronavirus, but the court denied his request. At the time, there were no coronavirus cases in the prison where Napout is serving his sentence, but today the number of cases stands at 15.
Napout’s lawyers have resubmitted their request for early release or alternatively the option of their client serving the remainder of his sentence in home confinement because of the new situation at FCI Miami, a low-security prison. In 2017, Napout was sentenced by a court in Brooklyn and in June his appeal was dismissed.
Napout’s representatives argue that the new lockdown rules for the prison population have led to harsher conditions. He is allowed to leave his cell only 100 minutes a week instead of the previous14 hours a week.
Brazil’s Jose Maria Marin, who served a four-year sentence at a US prison for his role in FIFAGate, was granted an early release on humanitarian grounds in April.
In September, Napout will challenge his ban for life from football by FIFA at CAS. Earlier this week, Ariel Alvarado was the first official from a slate of Latin American administrators to have his appeal heard by the Swiss-based tribunal. Ricardo Teixeira and Marco Polo del Nero are also expected to have their appeals against life-time bans heard by CAS.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735134803labto1735134803ofdlr1735134803owedi1735134803sni@o1735134803fni1735134803