Argentine judge denies U.S. extradition request for soccer figures

Avante

18/10/2016 21:29

By Hugh Bronstein 
    BUENOS AIRES, Oct 18 (Reuters) - An Argentine judge on 
Tuesday denied a U.S. extradition request for three former 
soccer figures charged as part of the probe into the sport's 
world-wide governing body, citing the fact that they were 
already being tried in Argentina. 
    International soccer's FIFA governing body was rocked last 
year by a U.S.-led investigation into corruption, bribery, wire 
fraud and racketeering in the world's most popular sport. 
    Federal Judge Claudio Bonadio rejected the extradition 
request from a New York court for the father-and-son sports 
marketing team Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, along with former 
regional soccer chief Eduardo Deluca, saying the trio should not 
be tried for the same crimes in two different countries. 
    "For the Jinkis (pair) and Deluca to face the same charges 
in two ongoing investigations in the jurisdictions of New York 
and Buenos Aires would put their constitutional rights at risk," 
said the 84-page opinion published by Argentina's CIJ judicial 
information agency. 
    A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, 
which is handling the case, declined comment.  
    The three are under house arrest in Argentina. Deluca had 
served as head of South American soccer body Conmebol. 
    Ex-FIFA officials who have pleaded guilty have agreed to pay 
tens of millions of dollars in forfeiture. 
    FIFA attempted to put the crisis behind it by approving the 
deepest reforms in its 112-year history in February. But the 
scandal has rumbled on, with regular announcements of new 
probes, extraditions and punishments of tainted officials. 
    Also on Tuesday, the former head of Thailand's soccer 
association was banned for five years by FIFA's ethics watchdog 
on charges of forgery.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1CO4NS 
 
 (Additional reporting by Maximilian Heath and Nicolas Misculin 
in Buenos Aires and Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by 
Alistair Bell) 
 ((hugh.bronstein@thomsonreuters.com; 5411 4318 0655; Reuters 
Messaging: hugh.bronstein.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: SOCCER FIFA/ARGENTINA