NEW YORK: The sentencing of one-time FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb for his role in the FIFAGate scandal could be put off again in the latest likely delay over the fragmented case.

Webb, who was among the ‘Zurich Seven’ detained in Switzerland on the eve of a world federation congress in May 2015, had been scheduled to face sentence on November 17 on a string of corruption charges to which he has pleaded gullty.

However the 52-year-old’s lawyer, Edward O’Callaghan, has filed an application with the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York to have the date delayed for six months. Last June, Webb was granted an initial delay in sentencing until November.

The court also agreed to relax the terms of his house arrest in Loganville, Georgia, allowing him to travel beyond the 20-mile restriction initially imposed.

Webb, who had been a high-flying Cayman Islands banker, as admitted racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money laundering conspiracy. As part of a plea deal, he agreed to forfeit more than $6.7m.

It is thought the latest delay may be linked to attempts by the US Department of Justice to finally obtain the extradition from Trinidad & Tobago of Jack Warner, Webb’s predecessor as president of the central and north American football confederation (CONCACAF).

Esquivel admission

** Rafael Esquivel, former president of the Venezuelan federation, has agreed to forfeit $16m in altering his plea in the $200m FIFAGate case. The 70-year-old is one of 42 individuals and entities charged and Esquivel would be the 19th individual to plead guilty.

Esquivel was among the original ‘Zurich Seven’ arrested at the Baur au Lac hotel in Switzerland in May 2015 and was extradited to the United States in March this year. He is detained under house arrest on $7m bail.

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