U.S. Seeks to Extradite FIFA Officials from Switzerland
WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) — The United States asked Switzerland to extradite seven high-ranking FIFA officials who were arrested in May on suspicion of taking millions in bribes.
Swiss authorities said its Federal Office of Justice received the requests Wednesday night from the U.S. Embassy in Bern on the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, which is handling the investigation.
The Swiss justice department will likely hold a hearing on the request in the coming weeks before making a final decision, authorities said. Switzerland’s top court, the Federal Supreme Court, could challenge any ruling.
The seven executives are among 14 officials with soccer’s world governing body indicted on corruption charges.
In late May, the U.S. Justice Department charged the officials of “racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants’ participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.”
Among those indicted is Jeffrey Webb, a FIFA vice-president responsible for North and Central America. FIFA President Sepp Blatter, 79, is stepping down as early as December as the investigation continues.
