Jack Warner Beats U.S. Extradition Bid After Years-Long Legal Battle

In other football news tonight, former FIFA vice-president and ex-CONCACAF president Jack Warner will not be extradited to the United States. It’s a major legal victory, following a ruling that came down earlier today from Justice Karen Reid in Trinidad and Tobago’s High Court. For years, Warner has been at the center of one of the biggest corruption scandals in world football. The U.S. wanted him on twenty-nine charges, including fraud, wire fraud, racketeering, money laundering, and bribery. These allegations date back to the early 1990s and run through 2011. Prosecutors claim Warner abused his powerful positions in FIFA and CONCACAF to solicit bribes and move illicit funds. One example, he allegedly facilitated a payment tied to South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup. But Warner’s extradition fight has dragged on for nearly a decade, bogged down in legal challenges. At the heart of today’s decision is something called the ‘specialty principle.’ It says if someone is extradited, they can only be tried for the charges listed in the request. Warner’s lawyers argued there was no clear agreement on which charges he’d face in the U.S. They also raised concerns about whether past Ministers of Justice followed proper procedures. So, for now, Jack Warner stays in Trinidad and Tobago. But this ruling could have ripple effects, not just for Warner, but for how extradition cases are handled in the region. And, of course, we’re all asking, will the U.S. appeal?