US seeks extradition of FIFA officials from Switzerland
US authorities have charged 14 people over alleged involvement in more than $150 million of bribes for football deals (AFP Photo/MIichael Buholzer)Switzerland said Thursday the United States had formally requested the extradition of seven FIFA officials arrested in May in a wide-ranging probe into corruption in football\’s top body.
"On July 1, the US embassy in Bern sent Switzerland formal extradition requests, within the timeframe set down in the bilateral extradition treaty," the federal office of justice said in a statement.
The United States had until July 3 to submit the extradition requests.
The seven were arrested in dawn raids at their hotel in Zurich on May 27, the first day of a FIFA Executive Congress.
They are among 14 people from North and South America that US authorities have charged over alleged involvement in more than $150 million of bribes for football deals.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said he would stand down following the allegations but has since indicated he might be a candidate in the new election.
The officials are fighting extradition.
SOURCE: AFP
Leave a reply
The Times of Earth ( TOE) founded in 1999, is a multilingual newspaper that is printed and circulated in many countries including some parts of the United States and Canada. It is considered as the largest trusted & respected international multimedia news/financial information source of the world.