NEW YORK: Lawyers for FIFAGate accused Eduardo Li have confirmed that a New York court has refused to release the former Costa Rica federation prsident on on bail.

Li had offered a $5m surety but this was not sufficient for Judge Robert Levy who will review Li’s application again on February 23.

Prosecutors have demanded bail of between $10m and $15m with $5m to $7m payable in cash. The rest would be in the form of property in the United States.

Li was just about to be admitted formally to the executive committee of world federation FIFA when he was among the seven senior football officials arrested in Zurich last May to spark an unprecedented crisis at FIFA.

Switzerland extradited Li to the United States in December to face charges that include fraud and money laundering. Li says he is innocent.

After Honduran Alfredo Hawit, the suspended president of CONCACAF, was moved to house arrest last week, Li is the only suspect left behind bars in the United States.

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