Date proposed for start of FIFA trial to be held in New York City

Photo credit: AFP

US prosecutors on Tuesday set a February 2017 target date for the start of the huge FIFA corruption trial that has ensnared dozens of world soccer’s top executives.

“The proposed schedule set forth below contemplates that jury selection would commence on February 27, 2017,” prosecutor Robert Capers wrote in a letter late Monday to federal Judge Raymond Dearie, who is presiding in the case.

Under the proposed schedule, evidence in the case would have to be submitted to the court by June 30 of this year, to give both defense and prosecution attorneys time to prepare their cases. Motions in the case would be presented through the end of January.

All told, 40 people have been charged in the massive corruption scandal, which first came to light in May 2015. Fifteen have already pleaded guilty.

Most of the accused are top soccer officials from the Americas, as well as sports marketing executives.