‎Trinidad and Tobago’s High Court ruled on Tuesday to permanently stay extradition proceedings against Warner, 82, citing procedural flaws in the absence of a formal extradition agreement between the two countries. 

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‎ormer Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) vice president Jack Warner has won a decade-long legal battle against extradition to the United States to face corruption charges.

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‎Trinidad and Tobago’s High Court ruled on Tuesday to permanently stay extradition proceedings against Warner, 82, citing procedural flaws in the absence of a formal extradition agreement between the two countries.

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‎Warner faces charges of racketeering and bribery in the United States.

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‎Warner was among 14 individuals named in a 47-count indictment issued by U.S. authorities in May 2015.

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‎He had been resisting extradition since the indictment, arguing at each stage of the legal process that he could not lawfully be sent to face trial in the United States.

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‎His appeals took him to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, which serves as the highest court of appeal for Trinidad and Tobago.

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‎In November 2022, the Privy Council dismissed Warner’s appeal against extradition, seemingly clearing the way for him to be sent to the U.S. to face charges.

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‎However, on 12 September, Warner’s defence attorneys argued that there was no formal extradition agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States—a treaty deemed necessary for extradition to proceed. An attorney for the state, who had recently taken over the case, did not oppose the argument.

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‎On Tuesday, Justice Karen Reid ruled that the extradition proceedings were fundamentally flawed due to the lack of an official treaty, permanently halting the extradition process.

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‎Following the ruling, Warner told The Associated Press, “I could never get back the lost reputation, which has happened to me. My life can now begin afresh, but it’s 10 years too late.”

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‎Warner’s career has been dogged by multiple corruption allegations. In 2020, a U.S. Department of Justice indictment accused him of receiving $5 million in bribery payments in exchange for voting for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup, a bid that ultimately succeeded.

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‎Warner was forced out of FIFA in 2011 amid a bribery scandal, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

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‎His career in public service includes previous roles as a government minister and member of Parliament in Trinidad and Tobago.

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‎The decade-long battle highlights the complex interplay between international law and domestic legal processes, particularly in high-profile corruption cases involving sports governance.

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‎Warner’s legal team argued persistently that procedural errors and the lack of a formal treaty between the two nations made any extradition unlawful, an argument ultimately upheld by Justice Reid.

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‎Warner’s victory is likely to reignite discussions over accountability within FIFA, the role of international treaties in legal proceedings, and the impact of prolonged legal battles on personal and professional reputations.

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‎Warner himself reflected on the personal cost of the case, stating, “My life can now begin afresh, but it’s 10 years too late,” underscoring the decade of uncertainty and reputational damage he endured.

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‎-Sahara

Real Madrid will once again snub the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards scheduled to hold on Monday, September 22.

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‎The ongoing feud with the competition’s organisers remains unresolved after Vinicius Jr was reportedly ‘robbed’ of the award last year.

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‎The Real star finished second after netting 24 goals in 39 games during the 2023/24 season and scoring the winner at Wembley in their 2-0 Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund. Club chiefs have agreed on this decision, marking the second time they will forgo the ceremony.

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‎A report by French outlet L’Equipe indicates that tensions between Real and the Ballon d’Or committee persist. The feud began when Vinicius was widely expected to win the award last season, but reports emerged that Manchester City star Rodri was instead going to claim it. This led Real Madrid’s delegation to skip the event in Paris and initiate a formal protest against the committee.

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‎This protest will continue into this season’s awards, scheduled for Monday, 22 September in Paris, with Real’s officials unlikely to attend. This includes club officials and players, despite attempts at reconciliation by FIFA, who sought to resolve the dispute. Real Madrid is maintaining its formal protest, questioning the scoring process and UEFA’s involvement.

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‎Indeed, a report by Marca (via the Daily Mail) states that Ballon d’Or chiefs travelled to Spain to address the snub, with tense discussions held with the La Liga giants in Madrid over recent months, ultimately ending without an agreement that would see Real return to the awards.

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‎Relations between the two parties have rarely been strained, with Real adhering to their belief that they have experienced a ‘historic robbery’. Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham have been nominated for the prestigious award, but it is believed that the accolade will go to either Ousmane Dembele or teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The last Real Madrid player to win the Ballon d’Or was Karim Benzema in 2022, and they have a total of 12 wins, tied with Barcelona, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Alfredo Di Stefano, and Ronaldo Nazario being previous recipients.

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‎-Leadership

‎Amidst political tension circumstances in his home country, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has relocated his family from Belgrade in Serbia to Athens in Greece.

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‎The 24-time Grand Slam champion, whose recent political activism has drawn both support and scrutiny, was marking a new chapter as his children, Stefan, 10, and Tara, 8, begin school in their adopted city.

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‎Djokovic finalised plans for the move after previously hinting at his interest in Greece, notably following discussions with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

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‎The acclaimed athlete has already been spotted at a local tennis club, suggesting his swift transition into Athenian life.

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‎The family has chosen St. Lawrence College, a private British institution, for his children now acclimatising to their new environment.

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‎Reports indicate that Djokovic, alongside his son Stefan, was recently seen enjoying a practice session at the Kavouri Tennis Club.

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‎In addition to tennis, the family was exploring options for clubs that would welcome both Stefan and Tara, considering facilities at the Kavouri and 91 Athens Riviera.

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‎This move comes in the wake of Djokovic’s vocal support for student-led protests in Serbia against President Aleksandar Vucic, which erupted after a tragic railway station collapse in Novi Sad last December that resulted in 16 fatalities.

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‎Djokovic’s public stance highlighted the importance of youth activism and engagement, as he expressed his belief in Serbia’s potential and the need for understanding and respect within society.

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‎While Djokovic has not directly opposed the Serbian government, speculation about his relocation was fuelled by reports of his intent to acquire a Golden Visa for residence in Greece, a pathway for non-EU citizens investing in the country.

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‎At Wimbledon this summer, Djokovic acknowledged the swirling speculation surrounding his future, leaving the door open for change, but stating, “who knows what could happen in the future.”

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‎Coinciding with his relocation plans, the ATP 250 event, typically hosted in Belgrade and overseen by one of Djokovic’s brothers, will now take place in Athens from November 2 to 8, marking another significant shift as the legendary athlete commits to his new home.

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‎As the Djokovic family settles in, the sporting world watches closely, eager to see how this new chapter unfolds.

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‎-Leadership