NEW YORK – The Latest on three former South American soccer officials on trial in the FIFA corruption case (all times local):
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5:15 p.m.
Closing arguments at the New York corruption trial of three former South American soccer officials have concluded with the lawyer for an ex-president of Brazil’s soccer federation claiming his client was clueless about a bribery scheme.
Defense attorney Charles Stillman says 85-year-old Jose Maria Marin was a mere figurehead while a younger soccer official took command and got in on the scheme.
Marin, Peru’s Manuel Burga and Paraguay’s Juan Angel Napout have sought to discredit witnesses who testified they took millions of dollars in exchange for influence in awarding commercial rights to FIFA (FEE’-fuh) soccer tournaments. Napout is a former president of the CONMEBOL South American soccer confederation. The men have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and other charges.
A prosecutor says the testimony of the star government witness in the trial was “devastating” for the defense.
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Deliberations could begin late Thursday.
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11:40 a.m.
A lawyer for the former president of Brazil’s soccer federation has told a U.S. jury that his client was clueless about a bribery scheme that’s scandalized the sport.
The remarks came Thursday in closing arguments at the trial of Jose Maria Marin and two other former South American soccer officials.
Defense Attorney Charles Stillman said Marin was considered a powerless figurehead in Brazilian soccer. He said that’s why Marin was left out of a scheme by soccer officials to collect bribes in exchange for their influence in awarding marketing rights to tournaments.
Marin and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Their lawyers say the evidence is too weak to convict them.
Prosecutors were to make rebuttal arguments later Thursday.
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10:10 a.m.
The first U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA (FEE’-fuh) soccer corruption scandal is moving toward the final phase.
Closing arguments were underway Thursday in Brooklyn federal court for the former president of Brazil’s soccer federation, Jose Maria Marin.
Prosecutors accuse the defendants of making themselves rich off a vast bribery scheme. Their lawyers call the evidence too weak to convict.
There are two other defendants.
Juan Angel Napout is the former president of Paraguay’s soccer federation and of the South American Football Confederation, Conmebol (KOHN’-may-bohl).
Manuel Burga is the former head of Peru’s soccer federation.
They’ve pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in a case that has captivated South American soccer fans.
