BY TIM PARSONS
The United States of America has asked Switzerland to extradite 7 Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges last May. The federal Office of Justice formally confirmed yesterday that extradition requests have been made and they are expecting the extraditions to take place at the earliest opportunity. All 7 top Fifa executives arrested in Zurich are among 14 Fifa officials indicted on charges of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption. The Federal Office of Justice said Zurich police, acting on its behalf, would give the wanted officials a hearing over the extradition requests.
The officials have 14 days to respond to the request, though it is yet to ber seen if the requests will be granted, or if a legal battle will ensue in an attempt to block the requests. The fifa officials must have been having serious nightmares ever since they were exposed for epic levels of fraud and money laundering in relation to hosting of the 2010, 2018, and 2022 world cup tournaments. The allegations involving fraud was said to have spanned over 2 decades and brought football kingpins to their knees. They could face 20 years imprisonment if found guilty. The president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, reportedly resigned over the scandal, only to later claim not to have actually resigned. However, he was conspicuously absent from the Women’s under 21 world cup final and sent his representative instead. America and the U.K were among the countries that bided fiercely for an opportunity to host the 2018 world cup which was awarded to Russia, with football icon, David Beckham and Prince Williams among the frontrunners for the campaign to host the prominent tournament that catches the world’s attention every 4 years. The revelations of the mega scandal associated with the 14 fifa officials arrested has opened a window of opportunity for America or the UK to get the spot, though there will be other countires also vying for the same chance.
One cannot help wonder if the huge scandal would have come to light had the U.S.A been awarded the privlege to host the world’s most celebrated sporting tournament. Such is the irony of life, world governing bodies and organisation rarely take steps that work against their own interests, even if in the interest of justice.
