Chile FF president in Miami after resigning amid FIFA probe

Chile FF president in Miami after resigning amid FIFA probe

Published Nov. 25, 2015 11:07 a.m. ET

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) The whereabouts of the former president of Chile's soccer federation has been solved.

Sergio Jadue had been missing since he resigned last week after refusing to answer questions by federation officials over his possible links to the corruption scandal at FIFA. Local media reported he struck a deal with the FBI, and that he might be in New York helping U.S. authorities.

But Chilean state TV aired images late Monday of Jadue walking the streets of Miami Beach in sandals, a T-shirt, and shorts. In the first images since he left Chile, Jadue was not guarded by police or bodyguards, and he was not visibly wearing an ankle bracelet. He declined to speak on camera.

Jadue declared his innocence right after the FIFA scandal broke in May even though he was not formally charged in the U.S. Justice Department indictments. Without specifying them by name, the indictments said most presidents of the 10 South American federations would receive $1.5 million in bribes from marketing company Datisa in exchange for control of the Copa America.

ADVERTISEMENT

The U.S. Justice Department has indicted 14 soccer officials and businessmen on charges of bribery, racketeering, and money laundering. Most are from South America, and among them are two former CONMEBOL presidents who are fighting extradition to the U.S.

share