Switzerland has extradited one of seven high-ranking FIFA officials detained in Zurich as part of an FBI corruption investigation.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice announced on Thursday that the official, whose name has not been formally released, was extradited to the United States on Wednesday. Unlike the other six detained FIFA officials, this individual in question allegedly refused to fight his extradition request.

Like Us on Facebook

"He was handed over to a three-man U.S. police escort in Zurich who accompanied him on the flight to New York," a statement from the ministry read.

Reuters has reported that the official, who was deported, is Jeffrey Webb. The 50-year-old Cayman Islands native was arrested along with his colleagues on May 27 by Swiss police in response to a request from the U.S. Department of Justice. The charges against the accused include racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

Swiss authorities say the extradited official faces charges of "accepting bribes totaling millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights to various sports marketing firms and keeping the money for himself."

Webb has held several positions in FIFA, including FIFA Vice President and member of the organization's Executive Committee. Additionally, he has served as president of the Confederation of North, Central American and the Caribbean Football Association (CONCACAF) and Chairman of FIFA's anti-discrimination task force.

According to NBC, FIFA's ethics committee has suspended Webb from the all positions he held prior to his arrest. He was replaced by Bruce Blake at FIFA and Alfredo Hawit at CONCACAF.

The indictment unsealed by U.S. prosecutors in May has shaken the football world; it accuses FIFA officials of amassing about $150 million in bribery over a period of 24 years.

The payments were allegedly received in exchange for awarding hosting, sponsorship and broadcasting rights for the World Cup and championship tournaments in North and South America. Regional club competitions were also included in the corruption allegation, which saw bribes being routed via American banks.

The allegations, which have forced FIFA president Sepp Blatter to announce that he will abdicate the office, include corrupt practices that ultimately led to Russia and Qatar winning the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids respectively.

Although 79-year-old Blatter has not been personally implicated in the investigation, he has vehemently denied being involved in corrupt practices.

The U.S. department of Justice has implicated 14 individuals, nine senior FIFA officials and five sports marketing executives from the U.S. and South America in the case.

Besides Webb, other detained FIFA officials currently contesting their extradition to the U.S. include Costa Takkas, Julio Rocha Lopez, Rafael Esquivel, Jack Warner, Eugenio Fiqueredo, Nicolas Leoz and Eduardo Li.

The accused marketing executives include Aaron Davidson, Alejandro Burzaco, Mariano Jinkis and Hugo Junkis.

If the accused are found guilty, they face about 20 years in prison. As of Thursday, neither Webb's lawyer nor the U.S. Justice Department spokesperson had released any statements regarding the extradition.

The investigation has caused several countries to open separate criminal cases into FIFA's operations. These countries include Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica and Switzerland.

The U.S. formally filed an extradition request with Switzerland for the seven FIFIA officials on July 1. According to RT, the detained executives and their lawyers have at least 14 days to respond to the charges leveled against them.

TagsSwitzerland, Jeffrey Webb, fifa corruption, Jeffrey Webb FIFA, Jeffrey Webb Net Worth, Switzerland FIFA Investigation, Switzerland Extradite FIFA Official