The former chairman of an Argentina-based sports marketing business who was among the 14 people indicted in a federal corruption case that has rocked the soccer world’s governing body is expected to appear in U.S. court on Friday.
Jeffrey Webb, a former Federation Internationale de Football Association vice-president, and Aaron Davidson, another former sports marketing executive, who were both also among the 14 indicted in the US have also pleaded not guilty.
The assets put up to guarantee the $20 million bond offered a breathtaking insight into the wealth that the dual Argentine-Italian citizen has accumulated, and the trust of close friends and family. In spite of that high figure, prosecutors said they thought he did not pose a flight risk, having turned himself in and consented to extradition.
Referring to the alleged bribery scheme, prosecutors said that Burzaco told his co-conspirators in May 2014: “All can get hurt because of this subject”. His next court appearance is set for September 18.
Among conditions of his release are that he live in an FBI-approved residence within 50 miles of the court.
He must surrender his passports to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, submit to electronic tagging and restrict his movements to New York and Long Island.
Lawyers for Burzaco in the United States declined to comment while his Argentine attorney did not reply to emailed requests for comment.
It also included Burzaco’s 20 percent ownership of a company – a share estimated to be worth more than $15 million. He was released on $10 million bond. His sister dabbed her eyes with a tissue as she sat quietly in the hour leading up to the hearing alongside Burzaco’s ex-wife, who had flown from Buenos Aires for the hearing.
The Torneos y Competencias company held the television rights for the Argentinian league between 1992-2009.
Burzaco was initially taken into custody near Italy’s border with Switzerland after turning up at a police station with two lawyers in June.
His arrival in the United States makes Burzaco the third defendant to date to be arraigned on the indictment, which was announced on May 27.
