Argentine executive pleads not guilty — Federation Internationale de Football Association case

The dual Argentinian-Italian citizen is the former general manager and board chairman of Torneos y Competencias, SA, an Argentine sports marketing company.

Burzaco pleaded not guilty to three charges of racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy and posted a $20 million bond for his release, underwritten by friends and family.

Alejandro Burzaco is among 14 people accused by US prosecutors of paying and receiving millions of dollars in bribes.

Burzaco was one of nine soccer officials and five marketing executives accused by the United States Justice Department of exploiting the sport for their own gain through bribes of more than $150 million over 24 years. 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.

US officials recently disclosed that Davidson was in plea negotiations. With prior approval, he is permitted to exit his residence for medical appointments and to go food shopping, the judge said, but is restricted to the Eastern and Southern District of New York and must remain within 50 miles of the courthouse in Brooklyn.

A lawyer for Burzaco did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Webb is under house arrest after securing a $10 million bond with properties and luxury goods like 11 designer watches, his wife’s diamond wedding ring, and expensive cars including a 2015 Ferrari. His next court appearance is set for September 18.

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.

Burzaco is from Argentina and ran a sports media and marketing company that eventually won the rights to Copa America tournaments.

But he disappeared, apparently fearing that he had also been indicted.

On July 18, former Federation Internationale de Football Association vice president Jeffrey Webb also pleaded not guilty in connection with the same scandal.

Four other former officials pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators before the indictments were announcement.