Former Brazil football chief Jose Maria Marin appears in US court in FIFA corruption case

NEW YORK — Former Brazilian Football Confederation president José Maria Marin appeared in a United States court Tuesday after being extradited from Switzerland to face charges in connection with the FIFA corruption scandal.

Marin, who was taken into custody in Switzerland in May, stands accused of having taken bribes worth millions of dollars from sports marketing companies in connection with the sale of rights for the Copa America tournaments for 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023, and for the Copa do Brasil for the period from 2013 to 2022.

He appeared in a U.S. federal court in Brooklyn.

Swiss prosecutors said last week that he had agreed to be extradited. He was handed over to two U.S. police officers in Zurich on Tuesday who accompanied him on the flight to New York, Swiss authorities said.

The 83-year-old Brazilian had been arrested by Swiss police in Zurich along with six other FIFA officials on May 27 on the basis of an arrest request from the United States.

Read more stories about the recent FIFA corruption scandals from The Tico Times

The charges rocked world football’s governing body as well as regional groups in North and South America. Marin is alleged to have shared bribes from Copa America with other football officials.

Attorneys had originally opposed Marin’s extradition.

Like Marin, former FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb also agreed to extradition to the United States. He was handed over to the U.S. authorities on July 15.

Five other officials arrested in May are still opposing extradition.