The United States has asked
Switzerland to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich
on corruption charges in May, the Swiss Federal Office of
Justice said Thursday.
The request was submitted on Wednesday under the terms of a
bilateral agreement between the two countries.
The top officials include three former members of the
executive committee of international football's governing body.
They could face up to 20 years in prison under the charges
formulated by US prosecutors as part of a major probe into
alleged coppuption within FIFA spanning 24 years, in which a
total of 14 officials are indicted.
The officials have 14 days to appeal against the
extradition request, after which a decision will be taken
"within a few weeks".
The ruling could then be challenged in the federal criminal
court and the federal supreme court.
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