The former head of the South American football confederation CONMEBOL, Juan Angel Napout, was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in the sweeping FIFA corruption scandal -- a tough punishment the judge said should deter others tempted by easy money.
The sentencing of the 60-year-old Napout came just a week after the former boss of Brazilian football, Jose Maria Marin, was jailed for four years in connection with the same case.
"There's a need for general deterrence because there was, and perhaps there is still, corruption in international soccer," federal Judge Pamela Chen told the courtroom as she delivered the sentence yesterday.
Wearing a beige prison jumpsuit, Napout implored the judge: "I want to ask for your compassion. I want to ask for your mercy."
But Chen said it was important to send a message "that you cannot steal millions in bribes from soccer organizations and go unpunished... that there are real consequences, that you'll go to jail and it won't be a slap on the wrist."
- 'Among the most culpable' -
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