By Paul Nicholson
August 18 – Jeffrey Webb, former CONCACAF president and the highest ranking of the FIFA officials arrested in May in Zurich, was in court in Brooklyn, NY, again last Friday where his hearing was adjourned until October 9.
Assistant US Attorney Evan Norris told the court that materials had begun to be turned over to Webb’s legal team and that the case was proceeding. Norris told the judge that he’s hopeful the talks will result in more defendants appearing in court to face racketeering and other charges.
Webb (pictured second right leaving court) has been accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for marketing rights for Caribbean and CONCACAF tournaments.
Currently on bail having posted $10 million in property and luxury goods, Webb – who has lost weight since his arrest – is confined to a radius of 20 miles of the Brooklyn courthouse.
While the US is pressing on extradition request for the six others arrested in May, Julio Rocha, the former president of the Nicaraguan soccer federation, has consented to be extradited from Switzerland, but not to the US.
In August Nicaragua, which is conducting its own investigation into Rocha for accepting bribes from a US sports marketing firm in return for commercial rights, filed for his extradition.
Swiss justice officials said that the US must agree to give priority to the Nicaraguan request, but if they don’t then the Swiss authorities will make their own decision on Rocha’s extradition.
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