Jack Warner extradition case adjourned until February

Fallen Trinidad and Tobago football boss Jack Warner got a temporary reprieve Wednesday from a bid by US authorities to try him for alleged involvement in the FIFA corruption scandal, as his extradition hearing was adjourned until February 19.

Lawyers for both sides agreed to push the case back after Warner`s legal team last week filed an application to the Caribbean nation`s High Court for a judicial review of the extradition process.

A judge will begin hearing that request Friday. It is a separate case from the extradition hearing, which is being held in a magistrate`s court.

Defense lawyers have asked for the extradition case to be stayed until the High Court reaches a decision. Warner appeared briefly in court on Wednesday, but no evidence was heard.

Warner, a former member of the island nation`s parliament, is wanted in the US to face 29 charges of bribery and racketeering stemming from an FBI investigation into allegations of massive corruption at FIFA.

He is accused of taking a $10 million bribe to help South Africa win the contest to host the 2010 World Cup, among other charges.

The explosive accusations of corrupt wheeling and dealing at FIFA have led to US charges against 14 top football officials and sports marketing executives including Warner, and the suspension of the world football governing body`s president, Sepp Blatter.

Warner, 72, was the long-time president of the Caribbean Football Union and CONCACAF, the continental football body for North America and the Caribbean.

He was a member of FIFA`s executive committee for two decades and rose to become its vice president before being banned for life by the world body in September.