A businessman in Argentina who was indicted less than two weeks ago by the U.S. Department of Justice for fraud during his role within FIFA, turned himself into police on Tuesday.
The Associated Press reported that Alejandro Burzaco, 50, arrived at a local police station in Bolzano, Italy. After a hearing on Tuesday, he was placed under house arrest in Bolzano, where he rented a house.
The Department of Justice indicted Burzaco and 13 other top FIFA officials on corruption charges on May 27. Bolzano was one of six ex-FIFA officials added last week to the Interpol's most wanted list. Burzaco, along with fellow Argentines Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis, is accused of together paying more than $100 million in bribes for media and commercial rights to soccer tournaments.
Since the indictment, Chuck Blazer, a U.S. citizen and former high-ranking FIFA official, admitted to accepting bribes for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups. And former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, who also was on the Interpol's most wanted list, threatened to leak documents that he says chronicle transactions involving former President Sepp Blatter, who recently resigned from his position.
Investigators so far have identified at least $151 million in kickbacks and bribes in exchange for selling broadcasting and marketing contracts for FIFA tournaments.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Michele Gorman is a Newsweek political reporter, with a focus on gun policy. She previously worked at msnbc.com, where she ... Read more
