Switzerland ruled Thursday that former FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo should be extradited to face charges in the US, the first suspect facing a forced transfer in the corruption case that has shaken world football.
Figueredo, a Uruguayan national, was among the seven FIFA officials arrested in May at a luxury hotel in Zurich after being charged by the US justice department of using his office at world football’s governing body to solicit bribes and kickbacks.
One suspect, Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman islands, agreed to extradition and was sent to the US in July.
But the remaining six suspects had challenged a transfer to American courts.
“All of the conditions for extradition are fulfilled,” the Swiss justice ministry said in a statement, adding that Figueredo had 30 days to appeal.
He has been accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from a Uruguayan sports marketing company in connection with the sale of marketing rights for matches in South America.
Switzerland is expected to rule on the remaining five extradition requests by the end of the month.