AP, La Paz :
The jailed president of Bolivia’s soccer federation could face trial on fraud and illicit enrichment charges in connection with the alleged disappearance of funds from a charity game, officials said Saturday.
Carlos Chavez is suspected of diverting funds from the more than $400,000 raised in a friendly April 2013 match the national team played against Brazil to raise money for the family of a fan who died during an earlier match, according to prosecutors.
Chavez is also treasurer of the South American Soccer Confederation, or Conmebol.
Chief prosecutor Ramiro Guerrero said his office was seeking preventative detention for Chavez and federation executive secretary Alberto Lozada, who was also arrested Friday.
Chavez has been head of Bolivia’s soccer federation for nearly a decade and was elected Conmebol treasurer in July 2013.
On Saturday, from a police cell in the southern city of Sucre, Chavez lashed out at the prosecutor’s office for ordering his arrest.
“This is a flagrant coup d’etat against the institutions of soccer. The norms of FIFA and Conmebol have been violated and they have been informed of this trick,” he said.
