FIFA’s Figueredo to be arraigned in Uruguay court

FIFA ex-vice president Eugenio Figueredo was to appear in court in his native Uruguay Thursday, to answer charges linked to the massive corruption scandal that has roiled international football.

Figueredo, 83, the former president of South American confederation CONMEBOL, was one of seven top football officials arrested in a raid on a Zurich luxury hotel in May which kicked off an unprecedented crisis at FIFA.

Extradited by Switzerland, he is due in Uruguay Thursday on a flight scheduled to arrive around 1200 GMT.

Figueredo has been indicted in the United States on charges of soliciting multi-million-dollar bribes from sports marketing firms.

Prosecutors said Figueredo faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of the charges against him.

Figueredo had agreed to be sent to Uruguay but is fighting extradition to the United States.