BUENOS AIRES: A judge in Argentina has ordered the release of a former senior South American football official who has been charged by the United States Department of Justice with involvement in the $200m FIFAGate corruption scandal.

However, the extradition of Jose Meiszner to the US will go ahead, Meiszner’s lawyer said.

Meiszner, the former secretary general of the South American confederation CONMEBOL, had surrendered to Argentinian police in December but had requested under house arrest on health grounds.

Lawyers acting for Meiszner said:”We requested the suspension of arrest because we considered that certain issues were not clear. The extradition process continues, but Meiszner is free.”

World football was thrown into turmoil last year when US prosecutors announced a sweeping corruption investigation concerning, centrally, the miuse of funds generated from media and sponsor rights to international tournaments in the Americas.

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