FIFA Corruption Investigation Update: Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner

Jeffrey Webb

On 9 July 2015, it was widely reported that a FIFA official, believed to be former vice president Jeffrey Webb, has agreed to be extradited from Switzerland to the United States. A report is here. A previous blog on the FIFA corruption investigation is here.

Mr Webb was one of seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, on 27 May 2015, in relation to corruption charges in the US. Mr Webb, who denies the allegations made against him, reportedly requested anonymity because the matter has not been made public.

According to a press release published by the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), in Switzerland, which did not name Mr Webb as the individual concerned but provided details of the US accusations, which align with those made formally against Mr Webb:

• at an initial hearing conducted by the Zurich Cantonal Police, the person concerned contested his extradition to the US;
• the FOJ requested that the US submit a formal extradition request, which was carried out on 1 July 2015; and
• a hearing took place on 9 July 2015, when the person concerned consented to his extradition to the US.

By consenting to extradition, Mr Webb will facilitate simplified extradition proceedings to the US. Under Article 61 of the Swiss Federal Act on International Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, Mr Webb must travel to the US within ten days. He will travel by US police escort, and appear before a federal court in Brooklyn, New York.

Jack Warner

In a related development, on 10 July 2015, it was reported that the US has not yet issued a formal extradition request for former FIFA Vice President, Jack Warner, who is also indicted in the US. A report is here.

At a hearing before the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court, in Trinidad and Tobago, in connection with a provisional arrest warrant issued for Mr Warner’s arrest, Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar ordered that the US has until 26 July 2015 to send the extradition request to the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

In the event that the US does not send any request by way of writ to the Trinidad and Tobago government before this deadline, Mr Warner will be able to apply for a discharge of the provisional arrest warrant ordered against him.

Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar has adjourned the matter until 27 July 2015. Mr Warner is currently on bail, and must report twice weekly to a local police station.