KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Jack Warner one of the most infamous of the FIFAGate targets of the United States Justice Department, has lost the latest stage in his bid to avoid extradition from Trinidad & Tobago.

Warner, a former FIFA vice-president and president of the central and north American confederation (CONCACAF), had been granted a stay on proceedings pending the outcome of appeal to the Privy Council in London.

This has now ruled against Warner and referred the case back to local magisrates’ courts. Warner, 79, is charged with offences including wire fraud, bribery and money laundering. He could face up to 20 years in jail in the US.

Warner’s legal team had challenged the original court decision to approve his extradition as inappropriate under the terms of the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act, and the treaty signed between Trinidad & Tobago and the US.

The former history teacher remained defiant after the latest setback.

In a statement on his Facebook page, he said: “I continue to have confidence in my team led by Fyard Hosein Senior Counsel, and I have advised them to continue to press my case on the three remaining stages of these proceedings.

“I have lived in this country for nearly 80 years, and I am confident that I will continue to receive the love, affection, and respect that people from all walks of life have always extended to me. I am certain I will prevail in the end.”

Warner, once Trinidad & Tobago’s security minister and stand-in prime minister, was not among the seven senior world football officials detained by Swiss authorities responded to US extradition warrants in May 2015 but he was named among those indicted on corruption charges.

He surrendered himself to fraud squad officers on May 27, 2015, and is on $2.5m bail.

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