By Paul Nicholson
September 21 – The South American marketers accused of offering bribes to secure commercial rights for major regional tournaments took the next steps along the judicial process in New York and Argentina. Meanwhile in Trinidad, Jack Warner is scheduled to get a ruling on his potential extradition to the US today.
On Friday former Torneos y Competencias CEO Alejandro Burzaco was in court in Brooklyn, New York, having pleaded not guilty on July 31. His lawyer, Sean Casey, told Judge Raymond Dearie that prosecutors were sharing evidence and that more was expected.
Burzaco is one of he lynch-pins in the bribery and money laundering scandal that has rocked football in North and South America, and which has had a tsunami effect through the rest of world football.
He is currently on bail after paying $20 million (CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb is on bail of $1 million in the same jurisdiction) and is co-operating with the US justice authorities which is expected to lead to a number of other arrests and charges, both of football executives and at sports marketing agencies.
Burzaco made no comment at the hearing or on leaving court. He will be back in front of the judge on November 18.
In Argentina Federal Prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita on Friday charged father and son Hugo and Mariano Jinkis (owners of the Full Play agency), as well as Burzaco for alleged money laundering.
The Jinkis’s are currently on bail in Buenos Aires waiting for a ruling on whether they will be extradited to the US.
Pollicita has requested more information on broadcast rights deals, advertising and sponsorship contracts from local bodies.
The Jinkis’s and Burzaco were also partners in Datisa which was set up to handle broadcast rights, most specifically for the Copa America, the CONMEBOL showpiece tournament that has been at the centre of the rights negotiations. In 2016 the tournament’s centennial edition is scheduled to be played in the US, outside of South America for the first time.
However, there is some doubt as to whether it will take place because of US Soccer Federation nervousness and fears around the current scandals. CONCACAF and CONMEBOL met last week Mexico City with broadcast partners, Univision and Televisa, thought there were no US representatives present. A CONCACAF statement said: “While all parties recognize that there are still issues that must be resolved, we are all in alignment regarding the next steps to be taken as well as the aggressive timeline towards realizing our common goal of staging the Copa America Centenario in the United States. We remain committed to working with all parties to resolve outstanding issues and operational components of the tournament.”
Warner awaits extradition outcome
Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi is expected to announce today his decision on the US extradition request for Jack Warner to face trial on the various criminal charges brought against him.
Al-Rawi had requested more time to review the case but that deadline expires today.
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