José Maria Marin agrees extradition to the USA
Bern, 28.10.2015 - José Maria Marin, former President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) agreed on Tuesday to be extradited to the USA. The Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) was then able immediately to approve the Brazilian citizen's extradition in simplified proceedings. As usual, for reasons of security and privacy no information will be given on the timing of the handover.
The former soccer official was arrested in Zurich along with six other FIFA officials on 27 May 2015, on the basis of an arrest request from the US. He was then held in custody pending extradition. The formal US extradition request which was submitted to the FOJ on 1 July 2015 is based on an arrest warrant issued on 20 May 2015 by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Marin is accused of having taken bribes worth millions of dollars from sports marketing companies in connection with the sale of marketing rights for the Copa America tournaments for 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023, and for the Copa do Brasil for the period from 2013 to 2022. He is alleged to have shared these bribes with other soccer officials. His actions are said to have resulted in funds being diverted from two of FIFA's continental confederations, as well as from the national football association of Brazil.
Second simplified proceedings
Marin had previously opposed his extradition to the USA, but has now agreed at a hearing on Tuesday. This enabled the FOJ immediately to approve his extradition in simplified proceedings. Under Switzerland's Mutual Assistance Act, the former soccer official must be placed in the custody of a US police escort and taken to the USA within ten days.
Like Marin, former FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb also agreed to his own extradition to the USA. He was handed over to the US authorities on 15 July 2015.
Appeals against FOJ extradition rulings
The five other former FIFA officials continue to oppose their extradition to the USA. They have all announced that they will lodge appeals with the Federal Criminal Court against the extradition rulings that the FOJ has issued over the past five weeks. The Court has already received the appeals from Eugenio Figueredo and Rafael Esquivel.
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Federal Office of Justice, T +41 58 462 48 48, media@bj.admin.ch
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