Today the Swiss Federal Justice Office (OFJ) agreed to the extradition of Rafael Esquivel, one of six FIFA managers in custody, to the United States.
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The decision marks the culmination of a process that started on 27 May 2015 when six of FIFA’s senior managers where taken into custody after Swiss police captured them in a surprise raid on a Zurich hotel where they were staying.
Esquivel, former president of the Venezuelan Football Federation and executive member of the South American Football Confederation, is suspected of accepting bribes of up to several million in relation to the awarding of marketing rights for future football matches.
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The OFJ said that it was satisfied that all conditions for extradition had been met. In particular, it was comfortable that the description of the alleged crimes in the US extradition request are punishable under Swiss law.
The Venezuelan has 30 days to challenge the decision. Any intention to challenge must be announced within five days.
Last week the OFJ reached a similar decision to extradite Eugenio Figueredo, the Uruguayan former vice president of the South American Football Confederation for similar alleged crimes. In addition, Figueredo is suspected of acquiring US citizenship fraudulently by submitting forged medical reports in 2005 and 2006.
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