ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) A judge in Paraguay has thrown out a request that proceedings for extradition to the United States be dropped against Nicolas Leoz, the former head of the South American football confederation.
Judge Humberto Otazu told reporters Thursday he had turned down the request from Ricardo Preda, the lawyer for Leoz.
Leoz, 86, is one of 14 people indicted by the U.S. Justice Department on charges of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering. The 86-year-old is being held under house arrest in the Paraguayan capital that is home to the headquarters of the confederation, known as CONMEBOL.
An appeals court will review the judge's decision, and Leoz still has the option of appealing to the country's supreme court.
Leoz was CONMEBOL president from 1986-2013, and a former member of FIFA's executive committee.
