FIFA corruption trial: Argentine lawyer accused of bribery jumps in front of train hours after testimony

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Nov 15, 2017

Hours after the star witness in the FIFA corruption trial said he paid him a bribe, Argentine Jorge Delhon was killed when he was struck by a train in an apparent suicide in Buenos Aires.

Alejandro Burzaco, the former CEO of Argentine-based Torneos y Competencias, testified that his company paid Pablo Paladino and Delhon $2 million in bribes for broadcasting rights to Argentine league matches.

AP reported that Delhon wrote in a suicide note to his family: "I love you all. I can't believe [what's happening]."

Paladino operated "Futbol Para Todos" -- offering league matches free-to-air on Argentine national television -- former Argentina President Cristina Fernandez launched in a bid by the government to stabilize Argentine league soccer. Delhon was a lawyer who worked in Fernandez's administration on the project.

Fernandez's critics charged she used "Futbol Para Todos" largely as a way to promote her government via advertising. Mismanagement of the program led to criminal proceedings being initiated against two former cabinet ministers.

"Futbol Para Todos" is now off the air.