FIFA opens case against Bedoya, Jadue

FIFA’s Ethics Committee has opened proceedings against former Executive Committee members Luis Bedoya and Sergio Jadue.

Both men pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy in December, having been indicted as part of the investigation into corruption within world football’s governing body.

A statement released by FIFA on Wednesday confirmed: “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert has today opened formal adjudicatory proceedings against Luis Bedoya, a former member of the FIFA executive committee, former CONMEBOL vice-president and former president of the Colombian FA, and Sergio Jadue, a former CONMEBOL vice-president and former president of the Chilean FA, based on the final reports submitted by the investigatory chamber.

“The chairman of the adjudicatory chamber has studied the reports carefully and decided to institute formal proceedings against the two officials. For reasons linked to privacy rights and the presumption of innocence, the adjudicatory chamber will not publish further details at the present time. 

“In the course of the proceedings, both parties will be invited to submit their positions, including any evidence relevant to the final reports of the investigatory chamber (art. 70 par. 2 of the FIFA Code of Ethics), and they may request a hearing (art. 74 par. 2 of the FCE).”

Investigatory chamber chairman Dr Cornel Borbely recommended life bans for the duo when concluding his final report last week.