US Asks Switzerland Extradition of Seven Leaders of FIFA

Bern – The United States requested Switzerland the extradition of seven leaders of the International Football Federation (FIFA), arrested last May and being investigated for alleged corruption.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice announced that it will respond next week to the request of the US authorities, whose investigation attempts to dismantle an extensive financial scam.

On May 27th, two days before the annual meeting of the FIFA, those FIFA officials were arrested, thus making public a scandal that many voices had been denouncing for years.

The seven are among 14 defendants in cases involving more than 150 million dollars in bribes for 24 years, in addition to money laundering and undeclared income.

According to a bilateral treaty, the US Justice had a period of up to 40 days to submit their requests for extradition, process that the seven arrested suspects will appeals.

FIFA says it will cooperate with investigations, while its president, Joseph Blatter, says he never resigned, but he set his charge to the disposition of the organization he leads.