Former Fifa vice president extradited to Uruguay

Former Fifa vice president Eugenio Figueredo will be extradited to his native Uruguay instead of the United States.

Switzerland’s justice ministry said it gave priority to Uruguay’s request because Figueredo can be prosecuted there for more charges than in the US, as part of a long-running investigation into tournament marketing rights.

“Uruguay would also be able to prosecute Figueredo on suspicion of having acquired US citizenship fraudulently,” the Swiss government added.

The ministry said prosecution “would be conducted at the request of the US authorities”.

The 83-year-old was arrested on May 27th at the Baur au Lac hotel and has since been held in a Zurich-area jail.

The US Department of Justice indicted him on racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering charges.

Meanwhile the Fifa ethics committee hearings against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have ended, with the latter’s lawyer emerging and declaring his client’s innocence.

Suspended Fifa president Blatter and suspended Uefa boss Platini are to learn their fate on Monday over whether there was impropriety in a payment received by the latter from the former in 2011.

Outgoing Fifa president Blatter, who signed off the payment, appeared before Fifa ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert on Thursday — while Platini boycotted his hearing.

The procedure meant he was unable to join the race to be Blatter’s replacement when a new Fifa leader is chosen in February, but his agent, as reported by the BBC, said on Friday: “Platini is innocent. Now we are hoping the ethics committee will render the law.”