By SBI SOCCER
All signs continue to point at the U.S. not hosting the Copa America Centenario, as one man who helped sell marketing rights for the tournament is set to be extradited on charges of bribery.
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) announced Thursday that it has approved the extradition of Eugenio Figueredo, the former vice president of FIFA and CONMEBOL, to the U.S. pending an appeal.
Figueredo, among other FIFA officials, was indicted by the U.S. government in May for counts of bribery. He reportedly accepted bribes from a Uruguayan sports marketing company for the sales of marketing rights for the Copa America tournaments in the years 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023.
“In its extradition ruling, the FOJ concluded that all of the conditions for extradition are fulfilled. Specifically, the facts laid down in the U.S. extradition request are also punishable under Swiss law (the principle of dual criminality),” a statement read.
“According to the request, by accepting bribes for the award of sports marketing contracts, Figueredo massively influenced the competitive situation and distorted the market for media rights in connection with the Copa América. Other sports marketing companies were placed at a disadvantage, and the affected football federations were prevented from negotiating more favourable marketing agreements.”
Next year’s Copa America is meant to mark the 100-year celebration of CONMEBOL, but ever since the U.S. government started indicting FIFA officials in May, rumors of relocation have been swirling.
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What do you think of this development? Think Figueredo will appeal? How much does this hurt the U.S.’s chances of hosting the Copa America Centenario in your opinion?
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