Argentines wanted in FIFA probe turn themselves in

Published Jun. 18, 2015 12:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Two Argentine businessmen wanted in the United States in a FIFA bribery case turned themselves in to authorities on Thursday after ignoring arrest warrants and staying out of sight for three weeks.

Accompanied by their lawyers, Hugo Jinkis and son Mariano presented themselves at a federal courthouse in Buenos Aires. They stated their intention to fight a U.S. extradition order and requested house arrest rather than jail while they do so.

The men were escorted out of the courthouse by Interpol and Argentine police agents. Handcuffed and with cloths covering their wrists, the men kept their faces down as they were loaded into police vehicles.

Jorge Anzorreguy, a lawyer for Hugo Jinkis, told reporters that the men will be detained while the judge decides on their petition.

''They have presented themselves in conformity with the law,'' said Anzorreguy.

The men were among 14 soccer and business officials indicted by the U.S. Justice Department in a sweeping investigation into alleged bribery, racketeering and money-laundering.

The Jinkis are owners of the Full Play, a sports marketing and broadcasting company. According to U.S. authorities, the company paid millions of dollars in bribes to secure rights to several games during four Copa America tournaments, which feature national teams from South America.

The men were also charged by Argentine authorities with tax evasion related to the FIFA charges, and warrants were issued for their arrest in late May.