Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
FIFA official Rocha agrees to extradition to Nicaragua
Football, Oversea's Football Leagues, Sports
August 13, 2015

FIFA official Rocha agrees to extradition to Nicaragua

Julio Rocha, the former head of the Nicaraguan Football Federation who was one of seven FIFA officials detained in Switzerland in May, agreed on Friday to be extradited to his home country, the Swiss justice ministry said.

The United States has also demanded Rocha’s extradition as part of its probe into massive corruption at football’s governing body.

Swiss justice ministry spokesman Folco Galli said that although Rocha had consented to face justice in Nicaragua, no action will be taken until US officials agree to set aside their own extradition request.

“If the US authorities do not agree, the issue will be decided by (Swiss justice officials),” Galli said in a statement.

Switzerland has already approved Rocha’s extradition in principle.

But if forced to choose between two conflicting requests, the justice ministry said it will consider the specifics of the alleged crimes and the nationality of the suspect, in accordance with its bilateral treaty with the US.

While Switzerland has no bilateral treaty with Nicaragua, extradition there remains possible under federal law, Galli said.

Jeffrey Webb, a native of the Cayman Islands and an ex-FIFA vice president, was extradited to the US last month.

The five remaining FIFA officials wanted by US authorities — all from South America or the CONCACAF zone of North and Central America and the Caribbean — have not yet agreed to be extradited.

They include Eugenio Figueredo from Uruguay — also an ex-FIFA vice president and Costa Rican Eduardo Li, who was supposed to join the FIFA Executive Committee in May.

There was also Brazilian football federation chief Jose Maria Marin and Costas Takkas, a Briton who worked for the Cayman Islands federation and Rafael Esquivel, president of the Venezuelan Football Federation.

Rocha was among the group arrested during a dawn raid in Zurich on May 27 ahead of a FIFA congress.

The case, initiated by the US Department of Justice that also targeted seven sports marketing executives, has shaken the football world and sparked worldwide calls for massive reform.

According to Galli, Nicaragua suspects Rocha of similar offenses to those listed in the US indictment.

Specifically, Nicaraguan prosecutors allege that Rocha took “bribes in connection with the award to a US sports marketing agency of marketing rights to soccer matches”, Galli said.

Swiss authorities have also launched a separate probe looking into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Outgoing FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, who has not been charged with any crimes and has fiercely denied any wrongdoing, ultimately agreed to step down, with his successor to be chosen at a special election in February.

On Tuesday, Swiss lawyer and former International Olympic Committee director general Francois Carrard was named to head a high profile reform committee.

Carrard, 77, previously guided the International Olympic Committee through its own governance reforms in the wake of the bribery scandal-hit Winter Olympics of 2002.

Blatter, whom some experts insist was complicit in the graft at FIFA, has called Carrard the “right man” with a “proven track record.”

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Mount Pleasant win Concacaf Caribbean Cup
Latest News, Sports
Mount Pleasant win Concacaf Caribbean Cup
December 2, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Mount Pleasant FA became the fourth Jamaican club to win the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, beating Dominican Republic’s Universidad O&M ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
CAFFE pays tribute to former ECJ chairman Dorothy Pine-McLarty
Latest News, News
CAFFE pays tribute to former ECJ chairman Dorothy Pine-McLarty
December 2, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) is mourning the passing of the Honourable Dorothy Pine-McLarty, a longtime con...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Fiscal Rules suspended as GDP takes a 5.3% hit from Melissa
Latest News, News
Fiscal Rules suspended as GDP takes a 5.3% hit from Melissa
December 2, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Independent Fiscal Commission has signaled that the fallout in gross domestic product (GDP) as a result of Hurricane Melissa i...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Melissa adds $29b to Budget as reflected in Third Supplementary Estimates
Latest News, News
Melissa adds $29b to Budget as reflected in Third Supplementary Estimates
December 2, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A total of $29.3 billion has been added to the National Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year as reflected in the Third Supplementary...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Hidden dangers after hurricane passes
Latest News, News
Hidden dangers after hurricane passes
December 2, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — When a hurricane passes, the first images that often come to mind are toppled trees, flooded streets, and shattered roofs, but one...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘We were like saviours’: Jimmy Cliff’s historic performance in Apartheid era South Africa
Entertainment, Latest News
‘We were like saviours’: Jimmy Cliff’s historic performance in Apartheid era South Africa
Howard Campbell Observer senior writer 
December 2, 2025
Observer Online presents the second story in ‘Jimmy Cliff: Stories Of A Bongo Man’, in tribute to the reggae legend who died on November 24 at age 81....
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Upgraded Little London Police Station a symbol of resilience – NHT
Latest News, News
Upgraded Little London Police Station a symbol of resilience – NHT
December 2, 2025
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Assistant General Manager for Engineering and Contract Monitoring at the National Housing Trust (NHT), Alex Bernard, says the open...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Crash causes traffic delays along Park Main Road in St Elizabeth
Latest News, News
Crash causes traffic delays along Park Main Road in St Elizabeth
December 2, 2025
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Motorists are being advised to expect delays along the Park Main Road following a motor vehicle collision that has reduced the...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct