Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

U.S. judge allows release of Venezuelan ex-soccer official on bond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former South American football boss who was arrested last year as part of a U.S. investigation into corruption in football's world governing body FIFA won the right to be released from jail on Thursday on a $7 million bond.

U.S. judge allows release of Venezuelan ex-soccer official on bond
(Reuters)

Rafael Esquivel, a former president of the Venezuelan Football Federation and vice president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) is accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights to regional football tournaments.

Esquivel, wearing prison issue khaki coveralls at a court hearing in front of Brooklyn federal judge Raymond Dearie, was to be released to his son and daughter after securing the bond with $2 million in cash and 12 properties.

He will be subject to home confinement and electronic monitoring.

The judge said Esquivel would not be permitted to leave New York or Florida, but did not give details about where he will be held.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

A lawyer for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn said at the hearing it was "a substantial bail package." Esquivel's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Esquivel is one of 42 individuals and entities charged by U.S. authorities investigating corruption in FIFA in a probe that has rocked football worldwide and sent the organisation into crisis. He was arrested last May in Zurich and extradited to the United States earlier this month.

(Reporting by Brendan McDermid and Mica Rosenberg; Editing by Bernard Orr)


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world