FIFA’S corruption trial took a bizarre twist with Kevin Jonas called as a witness.
The Disney pop star was took the stand in New York as prosecutors aimed to establish whether Juan Angel Napout, former Fifa vice president, was at a Paul McCartney gig in November 201o.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £30 BET Check out this new sign up offer from Sun Bets
Paraguayan Napout, 59, is accused of racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering, and was allegedly given tickets to attend the concert at River Plate’s stadium in Buenos Aires.
But, according to journalist Ken Basinger at the trial, Napout has refused to acknowledge that the event took place.
When prosecutors chose a witness to give evidence that the concert did take place, it turned out to be Kevin Jonas, of Jonas Brothers fame.
The Jonas brothers were taking part in a world tour and pitched up in Argentina’s capital two days before their concert to watch McCartney.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Jonas, 30, reportedly answered three or four questions. He said: “He was performing, we got invited.
“Any time you get to see Paul McCartney, it’s pretty special.”
He added that he did not know who Napout was and that he missed the first two songs of the concert due to traffic.
Another witness was Nelson Sanabria, ex-assistant to Napout, a former president of Conmebol, the South American Football Confederation.
RON HEARTBREAK How Balon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo saved his brother from drink and drug addiction
He told the court his former boss was fond of massages, manicures and pedicures – appointments arranged by his chauffeur.
A Brazilian businessman also told the US Federal Court that he helped set up a huge bribe to South American football officials to secure the rights for a new tournament.
Fabio Tordin testified at the trial of Napout, Jose Maria Marin, 85, former president of Brazil’s Football Confederation and Manuel Burga, who led soccer in Peru until 2014.
Tordin was one of 42 people indicted in the corruption mega-scandal.
He pleaded guilty in 2015, agreed to return $600,000 (£446,000) and is now cooperating with the US government against the only three in the dock.
The three accused have pleaded not guilty.
A total of 24 accused have already admitted their guilt in the case, outlined in a 236-page complaint detailing 92 separate crimes and 15 corruption schemes to the tune of $200 million (£148m).
US prosecutors announced the indictments on May 27, 2015, exposing a quarter-century of corruption in the heart of Fifa, world football’s governing body.
Leave a comment