MOSCOW, December 15 (RAPSI) – Former president of the Costa Rican football federation, Eduardo Li, agreed to his extradition to the United States where he is accused of involvement in FIFA corruption case, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, Li, along with several other high-ranking FIFA officials, was arrested in Zurich this May. Extradition request by the U.S. was filed on July 1. Request was approved by Swiss authorities in September. Li is accused of taking bribes from marketing companies in exchange for commercial rights to 2018 World Cup qualifier matches.
The UN Justice Department announced on May 27 that nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives have been indicted for racketeering conspiracy and corruption. The charges mention various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering and conspiring to solicit and receive millions in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for the official support of the sports marketing executives who allegedly agreed to make the unlawful payments.
Seven of the defendants were arrested in a Zurich hotel, where they met for the election of the FIFA president on May 29.
On June 16 it was revealed that North and Central American Concacaf general Chuck Blazer who has also served as executive in FIFA has been an “undercover agent” for FBI since 2013.
Blazer pleaded guilty to 10 charges in 2013 which included several economic crimes: bribery, money laundering and tax evasion with potential jail term of 75 years. In order to avoid serving his prison sentence, Blazer agreed to “provide truthful, complete and accurate information” to US prosecution and “participate in undercover activities pursuant to the specific instructions of law enforcement agents”.