The United States has asked Switzerland to extradite seven Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges in May، the Swiss authorities say.
Formal extradition requests were submitted on Wednesday، the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said. The seven top executives arrested in Zurich are among 14 Fifa officials indicted on charges of “rampant، systemic، and deep-rooted” corruption.
The charges follow a major inquiry by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FOJ said Zurich police، acting on its behalf، would give the seven officials a hearing over the extradition requests.
Officials and their lawyers would have 14 days to respond to FOJ’s request، which could be extended according to the statement.
Following this، the FOJ would give its decision “within a few weeks”، but had warned that any ruling could be challenged in both the federal criminal court and the federal supreme court.
Jeffrey Webb، Fifa vice-president in charge of North and Central America، was among those arrested by Swiss police in a raid on a luxury hotel in the early hours of 27 May.
The seven are among 14 defendants the US has charged with racketeering، wire fraud، and money laundering conspiracies.
The formal extraditions were expected. They were delivered to Switzerland’s justice ministry late at night by US diplomats.
It is believed all seven Fifa officials plan to appeal – a process which could go all the way to Switzerland’s supreme court، and take months. The other option is to agree to a swift extradition، engage a lawyer in the US، and apply for bail.
Source: BBC/Europe