Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner is today breathing a huge sigh of relief after the High Court in Trinidad and Tobago ruled against his extradition to the United States to face a string of corruption-related charges.

The ruling was handed down just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday by Justice Karen Reid, marking the latest dramatic twist in the long-running legal saga surrounding the 82-year-old ex-football powerbroker.

Warner, who also once served as president of regional governing body Concacaf, was wanted by U.S. authorities on 29 charges, including fraud, wire fraud, racketeering, money laundering, and bribery. The alleged offenses spanned several countries between the early 1990s and 2011, with prosecutors accusing him of leveraging his senior positions in world football to solicit bribes and illicit payments.

Among the allegations were claims that Warner facilitated payments linked to South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, along with participating in wide-reaching financial conspiracies to enrich himself and allies.

Extradition proceedings in Trinidad and Tobago have dragged on for years, bogged down by complex legal challenges. Central to the dispute was the “specialty principle,” which dictates that someone extradited can only be prosecuted for the specific offenses listed in the request.

Warner’s legal team successfully argued that a key written agreement outlining precisely which charges he would face in the U.S. was either missing or had never been properly formalized. Questions also loomed over alleged misconduct by past Justice Ministers and whether essential safeguards — such as valid documentation specifying the charges — were observed during the process.

Speaking after the ruling, Warner said he was overwhelmed by the outcome:

“After 10 years I am thrilled, I can’t find adequate words. I’m relieved by the fact that we were able to win this on this matter under the extradition has been permanently stayed. For me it’s a big event, it’s a red-letter day, and all I could say I thank God and I want to also thank my family for standing with me through these difficult times.”

He also described the case against him as politically motivated:

“I can’t see it any other way except being a political witch hunt and this happened to me at a time when I was serving this country at one of the highest levels in parliament. And you recall I was at one time Minister of Works and Transport, Minister [of] National Security — I was leaving the country when this happened to me. So I consider it to be a witch hunt, but more importantly what happens after this, I want to say to you that I am prepared [to] serve the country once again.”

Warner further pledged to re-engage with the sport that made him an international figure:

“I want to be able to revive football in the country. I want to be able to lend to this sport that made me who I am some help because I think that football can do wonders, especially at this point in time qualifying for the World Cup.”

His comments come as Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors battle for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They currently sit third in Group ‘B’ of the Concacaf final round qualifiers with one point, following a 2-0 defeat to regional rivals Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz on September 9. The Reggae Boyz top the group with six points.

Both teams are set to meet again in the return leg on October 14 in Port of Spain.