NEW YORK: The FIFAGate trial in New York of three former South American football bosses has entered its closing phase.

The prosecution yesterday concluded presentation of its case against Jose Maria Marin (Brazil), Juan Angel Napout (Paraguay) and MAnuel Burga (Peru) who all deny corruption charges in the $200m FIFAGate bribes scandal.

Defence lawyers have indicated they will not be calling witnesses before closing statements to the jury in the five-week hearing.

Separately, Judge Patricia Chen ruled a reduction in the jail time to be served by Costas Takkas who had become, in October, one the first of 42 indicted individuals sentenced in the process.

Chen announced that she should would grant Takkas 10 months credit for time served, so he will spend only a further five months in detention. Takkas is a British citizen who had pleaded guilty to helping Jeffrey Webb (ex-[president of CONCACAF and former FIFA vice-president) take bribes for CONCACAF media rights.

############