RIO DE JANEIRO: Marco Polo del Nero intends to defend himself, before FIFA’s ethics committee on Friday, not in person but via video link from Rio de Janeiro writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Del Nero, president of the Brazilian confederation, has been suspended for 90 days by world football’s governing body after allegations of bribery were laid against him last month in the trial of CBF predecessor Jose Maria Marin in New York.

Both men had been indicted in the United States’ FIFAGate investigation; the difference was that Marin was detained for extradition in Zurich in May 2015 while Del Nero, learning about the arrest, flew home as soon as possible.

Denials all round . . . Marco Polo del Nero

Brazilian citizens are precluded from extradition from the country by a clause in the constitution. Hence Del Nero has remained in Brazil ever since and refused to travel abroad even with his own national team.

Local media reports state that Del Nero’s request to appear by video link, supported by two lawyers, has been approved by the ethics committee. However this does not prevent it from drawing conclusions about his refusal to travel.

The 90-day suspension expires on March 14 but the ethics committee may extend it by a further 45 days if its investigation remains incomplete.

Del Nero, who denies all wrongdoing, was indicted in the US on seven charges including money laundering and the receipt of $6.5m in bribes in connection with the award of broadcast and marketing rights to South American international competitions.

Marin was found guilty last month on similar charges, which he denied, and will be sentenced for an expected prison term in April.

The evidence included statements from Brazilian businessman Jose Hawilla based on secret recordings of conversations in which he negotiated with Kleber Leite, owner of the Klefer agency, the payment of bribes to Marin, predecessor Ricardo Teixeira and Del Nero.

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