American Chuck Blazer admits to accepting bribes at FIFA
Chuck Blazer, a former member of the FIFA Executive Committee, has admitted to receiving bribes to vote for South Africa as the host of the 2010 World Cup as well as during the sale process of the broadcasting rights of the tourney.
Blazer, an American, told a federal judge in the United States that along with other members of the governing body's ruling panel, he agreed to accepting the bribes.
"Beginning in or around 2004 and continuing through 2011, I and others on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup," Blazer told US District Judge Raymond J. Dearie.
How it all began
Blazer served in the committee from 1996 to 2013. He has also held other high ranking positions at FIFA including the general secretary of CONCACAF from 1990 until 2011.
Back in 2008, South African Football Association President Molefi Oliphant asked FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke to withhold $10 million from the budget of the 2010 World Cup organizers and to use the money to finance a "Diaspora Legacy Programme" under the control of CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football).
South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has denied the move was bribery, saying it was an "above-board payment" to help soccer development in the Caribbean region.
Seventy-year-old Blazer also said he accepted bribes around 1992 over the 1998 World Cup, whose election was finally won by France rather than Morocco.
"I and others agreed to accept bribes and kickbacks in conjunction with the broadcast and other rights to the 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Gold Cups (the regional championship for national teams)."
Unraveling scandal
The confessions were made in the wake of a scandal involving some senior FIFA officials. The corruption case made headlines on May 28, when Swiss authorities launched a raid on a gathering of senior FIFA members in Zurich, arresting seven of them.
The Swiss government said the raid was part of a probe led by the United States into corruption allegations against the FIFA officials.
A separate probe has been launched in Switzerland into the granting of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup events to Russia and Qatar, respectively.
In a Tuesday press conference at FIFA’s headquarters in the Swiss city of Zurich, FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced his intention to step down as the head of the world's governing body of football.
NT/AS/MHB
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