FIFA ex-vice president pleads not guilty, gets $10M bond

A former top FIFA official pleaded not guilty Saturday to racketeering and bribery charges in a corruption case aimed at soccer’s governing body that has sent shock waves through the sport. Jeffrey Webb posted a $10 million bond at his arraignment in federal court. He surrendered three passports — two from the United Kingdom and one from the Cayman Islands — and will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device as a condition of his release. Webb’s bond was secured by 10 different people including his wife and her parents, who were in the courtroom.  Webb, 50, was among seven FIFA officials detained in Switzerland. The rest are fighting extradition. Prosecutors allege the defendants plotted to pay bribes of more than $150 million — tied to the award of broadcasting and hosting rights for the World Cup and other tournaments — over a 24-year period. Following the indictment, Webb received a provisional ban and was replaced as the FIFA vice president from the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

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