Sport Updates

Venezuelan under US house arrest

AFP, NEW YORK: A New York judge placed Venezuela's former football federation president under house arrest on a $7 million bond Thursday after he pleaded not guilty in the FIFA corruption scandal.
Rafael Esquivel, who is also former vice president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), denied corruption charges in a federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday, one day after being extradited from Switzerland.
Esquivel, 69, was arrested in Zurich last May as part of a US-led investigation into massive graft at FIFA, football's scandal-plagued world governing body.
He is accused of taking bribes worth several million dollars for the awarding of sports marketing contracts in connection with the Copa America and risks up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Judge Raymond Dearie and US prosecutors accepted a $7 million bond for his release, including $2 million in cash and property guarantees outlined by defense lawyer David Goldstein.
The conditions of release require Esquivel to surrender his passports and be subject to electronic monitoring and round-the-clock surveillance.

Sport Updates

Venezuelan under US house arrest AFP, NEW YORK: A New York judge placed Venezuelas former football federation president under house arrest on a $7 million bond Thursday after he pleaded not guilty in the FIFA corruption scandal. Rafael Esquivel, who is also former vice president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), denied corruption charges in a federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday, one day after being extradited from Switzerland. Esquivel, 69, was arrested in Zurich last May as part of a US-led investigation into massive graft at FIFA, footballs scandal-plagued world governing body. He is accused of taking bribes worth several million dollars for the awarding of sports marketing contracts in connection with the Copa America and risks up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Judge Raymond Dearie and US prosecutors accepted a $7 million bond for his release, including $2 million in cash and property guarantees outlined by defense lawyer David Goldstein. The conditions of release require Esquivel to surrender his passports and be subject to electronic monitoring and round-the-clock surveillance.