Rafael Esquivel extradited to the USA

Berne. Rafael Esquivel, former President of the Venezuelan Football Federation and Vice President of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), was extradited to the USA today. Two US police officers took charge of him in Zurich and accompanied him on the flight to New York.

Rafael Esquivel was arrested in Zurich along with six other FIFA officials on 27 May 2015, on the basis of an arrest request from the USA. The Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) approved his extradition to the USA on 23 September 2015. Esquivel's appeal against this decision to the Federal Criminal Court was rejected in the Court's decision of 27 January 2016. He then appealed against the Federal Criminal Court's decision to the Federal Supreme Court. On 26 February 2016 Raphael Esquivel notified the FOJ that he had withdrawn his Federal Supreme Court appeal and wished to be extradited to the USA as soon as possible. The FOJ gave its approval that same day.