Football: Arrested Fifa official Napout agrees to be extradited

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch (centre) delivers remarks beside US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Robert Capers (left) and FBI Assistant Director in charge of the New York Field Office Diego Rodriguez (R), during a press conference announcing law enforcement action relating to FIFA and the arrests of CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit and CONMEBOL President Juan Angel Napout, at the Justice Department in Washington, DC, USA, on Dec 3, 2015. PHOTO: EPA

ASUNCION (AFP) - One of the latest football officials arrested in Switzerland in the Fifa corruption probe, Juan Angel Napout, has decided not to contest his extradition to the United States, media in his native Paraguay reported on Monday.

Napout, the ex-president of South American confederation CONMEBOL and a vice president of Fifa, was arrested Thursday morning at a Zurich luxury hotel, one of 16 people named in a new indictment from US authorities investigating allegations of massive corruption at world football's governing body.

Citing his Paraguayan lawyers, newspaper ABC Color reported on its website that Napout, 57, had agreed with his defense team - a Boston-based law firm - to accept immediate extradition to the United States.

"Mr Napout has declined his right to a hearing before the Swiss authorities and agreed to be immediately extradited to the United States to directly confront the accusations before the US justice system," the defense team said in a statement quoted by the daily.

"Since his election as CONMEBOL vice president in 2013 and president in 2014... Juan Angel Napout has dedicated himself to promoting and putting in place a policy of transparency and reform." Napout was arrested alongside fellow Fifa vice president Alfredo Hawit of Honduras. Fifa on Friday suspended both officials for 90 days.

Both are accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes in return for selling marketing rights for regional tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches.

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