ZURICH: Extradition proceedings are formally under way in Switzerland against the seven FIFA-linked football officials – including two then vice-presidents – wanted by the United States Justice Department in the ongoing world football coruption investigation.

A spokesman for Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice said the requests had been received on July 1, within the 40-day deadline required.

All seven men, who face around 20 years in prison, have already objected to extradition.

The applications will be heard by Zurich police initially who will then be granted a 14-day period to respond to federal officials about the extradition request. Subsequently the Federal Office of Justice must rule on whether to extradite them.

That ruling can be appealed to Switzerland’s top criminal court and supreme court.

The seven men, arrested May 27 in early-morning raids at a luxury Zurich hotel, include FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands and former FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay.

Costa Rican federation president Eduardo Li was arrested two days before he was due to formally join FIFA’s executive committee.

Former Brazilian federation chief Jose Maria Marin led the 2014 World Cup local organizing committee and is a member of the FIFA panel organizing the Rio de Janeiro Olympics tournaments.

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