Disgraced former American Soccer Executive Chuck Blazer, whose admissions started the FIFA corruption scandal that ultimately ended former President Sepp Blatter’s regime has died, aged 72.
His lawyers Eric Corngold and Mary Mulligan, announced his death yesterday in a statement at a November 13th court invoking his yearlong co-operation with the authorities (that upended FIFA) and ‘his profound sorrow and regret.’
“Chuck hoped to help bring transparency, accountability and Fair Play to CONCACAF, FIFA, and soccer as a whole.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Chuck also accepted the responsibility for his own conduct by pleading guilty and owning up to his mistakes. Chuck felt profound sorrow and regret for his actions,”[/perfectpullquote]
the statement said.
Blazer was battling rectal cancer, diabetes, and a coronary artery disease. He opened a can of worms after publicly admitting to taking bribes that he and others on the FIFA ruling panel were offered, to vote for hosting rights of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, hosted in France and South Africa respectively.
In a bid to hide his income, Blazer stopped paying taxes which put the FBI and IRS on his tail but the Bureau managed to turn him into a whistleblower, helping the US Department of Justice to round-up dozens of high placed soccer administrators around the world.
In November 2013, he pleaded guilty to one count each of racketeering, money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and willful failure to file a report of Bank and financial accounts adding to the six counts of tax evasion.
Blazer was banned from football for life on July 9th, 2015 for what FIFA termed as ‘many acts of misconduct’ during his reign as the CONCACAF General Secretary.
He will be remembered for fighting tooth and nail to take the World Cup to the U.S in 1994 and helping build the region’s football governing body (CONCACAF) from a small time outfit to a dynamic dominant marketing powerhouse.
Featured Photo: Getty Images
