Rafael Esquivel extradition to US agreed by Swiss over FIFA probe
Wednesday 23 September 2015 15:29, UK
The Swiss judicial authorities have approved the extradition of FIFA official Rafael Esquivel to the US to face accusations of corruption.
Esquivel, the former president of the Venezuelan Football Federation, was arrested in Zurich on May 27 along with six other FIFA officials following an arrest request from the US.
He is accused of receiving bribes worth millions of pounds in connection with the sale of marketing rights to the Copa America tournaments in 2007, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023.
Esquivel, who is also a member of the executive committee of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), is the third of the seven arrested to receive confirmation of their extradition to the US.
Following his arrest, he was held in custody in Switzerland. His extradition was approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice on Wednesday and he now has 30 days to appeal to the Swiss Federal Criminal Court against the ruling.
Bribes
According to the extradition request from the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, by accepting bribes for the award of sports marketing contracts, Esquivel massively influenced the competitive situation and distorted the market for media rights in connection with the Copa America.
Other sports marketing companies were placed at a disadvantage, and the affected football federations were prevented from negotiating more favourable marketing agreements.
Of the seven people arrested in May, former FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb from the Cayman Islands agreed to be sent to the USA, where he is now on bail.
The Swiss authorities last week approved the extradition of another former FIFA vice-president, Eugenio Figueredo, from Uruguay. He was also given 30 days in which to appeal.
