By Andrew Warshaw
July 10 – Shamed former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has won more time in his bid to avoid being extradited from his native Trinidad and Tobago to the United States to face corruption charges as part of the FBI probe into widespread corruption involving senior FIFA and other footballing officials.
The ex-CONCACAF chief was apparently all smiles as the case was adjourned because the US authorities had yet to send formal extradition papers.
Warner was among 14 high-ranking officials and marketing executives indicted in late May to face 47 charges for their roles in the unprecedented corruption scandal that involved $150 million and stretches back 24 years. Seven of the officials, including Warner’s successor at CONCACAF Jeffrey Webb, were arrested and detained in Zurich two days before the FIFA congress which saw Sepp Blatter re-elected for a fifth term as president, only to announce four days later he was stepping down.
After Trinidad authorities were served with notice to detain Warner pending an extradition application, he was arrested and released initially on $2.5 million bail with his passport held. But the relevant extradition documentation has apparently yet to be submitted.
Warner, arguably the most tainted individual in the history of FIFA, faces a lengthy jail term if found guilty. He has hired a powerful legal team in his bid to stay out of the hands of US officials.
His two sons have already pleaded guilty to a string of charges and Warner himself has been accused of 12 charges related to fraud, racketeering and engaging in illegal wire transfers. Amid mounting pressure, he resigned from his FIFA roles four years ago rather than face being thrown out as a result of the unconnected cash-for-votes scandal which he facilitated in Trinidad and which related to that year’s FIFA presidential election. Yet he has always denied any wrongdoing, pointing the finger at others.
If the US request is not formally filed in Trinidad in just over two weeks, Warner’s defense team are reported to have said they can apply “to have the matter dismissed” under rules of the extradition treaty between the two countries.
The adjournment of Warner’s case ironically came shortly after his partner-in-crime, former CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer, was banned for life by FIFA for widespread corruption in the latest development of the ongoing debacle.
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