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Ex-Honduras president guilty of FIFA bribe

A former president of Honduras has admitted to taking bribes in the wide-ranging FIFA football scandal.

Mar 29, 2016, updated Mar 29, 2016
Former Honduran President Rafael Callejas leaves the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. Photo: ANDREW GOMBERT, EPA.

Former Honduran President Rafael Callejas leaves the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. Photo: ANDREW GOMBERT, EPA.

Rafael Callejas, a member of FIFA’s television and marketing committee, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in federal court overnight, Australian time.

He told the judge he had accepted bribes and distributed some of the money to others.

He said he knew it was wrong.

An indictment alleged that in 2012 a marketing firm wired $US500,000 to a Panama bank account so it could be paid as bribes to Callejas and another soccer official in exchange for broadcasting rights to qualifier matches for the 2022 World Cup.

He previously pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud charges.

Callejas was president of Honduras from 1990 to 1994.

-AP

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