Police in Peru have detained former Peruvian Soccer Federation (FPF) chief Manuel Burga in anticipation of extraditing him to the United States.
Burga was arrested Friday night at his home in Lima, one day after the United States justice department unsealed indictments of 16 FIFA directors and league bosses in Latin America. The U.S. attorney general now has 60 days to formally request his extradition.
“I knew they were going to come, I was waiting for them,” Burga said. “I am completely calm. I have not received any bribe or kickback. I will have to defend myself and so I am making myself available to police.”
Before being extradited, Peru’s law requires Burga’s case to be heard in the supreme court and signed off by President Ollanta Humala’s Cabinet.
Burga faces five charges of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering for his alleged involvement in a scheme in which league bosses in South America collected bribes in exchange for advertising and broadcast rights of international soccer matches.
“Manuel Burga is a professional liar,” said congressman Daniel Abugattas, who in 2014 filed a report with Peru’s justice department alleging corruption in the FPF. Abugattas estimated that over his 12 years as the head of the FPF, Burga collected over $400 million in kickbacks.
Burga served as the FPF president and as a director of FIFA’s South America confederation CONMEBOL from 2002 to 2014.
Sources
Manuel Burga es trasladado hasta la sede del Poder Judicial (Andina)
Cronología de la captura de Manuel Burga por caso de corrupción en la FIFA (Andina)
Manuel Burga: ¿Qué pasará ahora que ha sido detenido? (El Comercio)
Manuel Burga vs. US of America, por Dino Carlos Caro Coria (El Comercio)
Manuel Burga fue capturado tras pedido de la Justicia de EEUU por caso de corrupción en la FIFA (Peru 21)
Daniel Abugattás sobre Manuel Burga: “Manejó siete veces más dinero que Orellana” (Correo)
Abugattás sobre Manuel Burga: “Siempre ha sido un profesional de la mentira” (RPP)
View Comments (1)
If Burga has spent more time developing soccer in Peru instead of taking bribes, we would have a national team to be proud of. I feel Peru has the talent to compete for the FIFA championship, but it will take a few years to get beyond the scandals/scars of this evil person. Only one knows the answers to his conduct, but IMO he is guilty of selling out the good players in Peru for his own lavish life-style and arrogant attitude of breaking the law. Enjoy your time in prison...