FIFA's Figueredo to be extradited to Uruguay on December 24

Switzerland will extradite FIFA ex-vice president Eugenio Figueredo to his native Uruguay December 24, after his arrest in connection with the corruption scandal rocking world football, his lawyer said Monday.

Attorney Karen Pintos said Figueredo -- who was also sought by the United States -- will arrive around 1200 GMT on Thursday.

The prosecutor in the case, Juan Gomez, told local daily El Pais that Figueredo would be held at a jail and not await trial under house arrest. Pintos has said she wanted house arrest for her client, who is 83.

Figueredo, the former president of South American confederation CONMEBOL, was one of seven top football officials arrested in a raid on a Zurich luxury hotel in May which kicked off an unprecedented crisis at FIFA.

He has been indicted in the United States on charges of soliciting multi-million-dollar bribes from sports marketing firms.

But authorities in Uruguay launched their own investigation and subsequently charged him with abusing his office.

Figueredo had agreed to be sent to Uruguay but fought extradition to the United States.

The Swiss justice ministry approved his extradition to both countries, and said in November it would be up to the United States to decide whether to let Uruguay have priority.

The news about Figueredo came as FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini were banned from all footballing activities after the association's ethics tribunal said they had abused their positions over a suspect $2-million payment (1.8-million-euro).
Source: AFP