By Andrew Warshaw
September 23 – Yet another of those arrested in Switzerland back in May as part of the FBI probe into widespread fraud is a step closer to facing justice in the US.
Swiss authorities have approved the extradition of Rafael Esquivel, once one of the most powerful men in South American football and former president of the Venezuelan FA.
Esquivel is accused of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights to the Copa America tournaments in 2007, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023. He has 30 days in which to lodge an appeal. He was arrested in Zurich along with six other major footballing figures and has since been in custody.
Last week the Swiss approved the extradition to the US of former FIFA vice-president, Eugenio Figueredo from Uruguay.
Earlier this month Jeffrey Webb, former president of CONCACAF and also a FIFA vice-president, accepted extradition, denying all charges. He is currently on bail in the US.
On Monday, US extradition proceedings against former FIFA powerbroker Jack Warner, one of the biggest players in the entire scandal, were approved by Trinidad’s attorney general, with a decision expected tomorrow as the US authorities edge closer to bring all those accused of $150 million of wrongdoing over two decades to trial.
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