Blazer reveals world cup bribe

The former Fifa official has claimed that he and
members of the executive committee agreed to
take kickbacks over the allocation of a number of
tournaments
Fifa whistleblower Chuck Blazer has claimed that
bribes were taken over the selection of the host
nations for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups in an
extraordinary testimony.
Blazer, a former Fifa Executive Committee member
was a key witness in the corruption investigation
that has led to the arrests of a number of
footballing officials over allegations of money-
laundering and racketeering.
And the 70-year-old has now revealed the extent
to which bribery took place in the awarding of
certain international events, including the World
Cups in France and South Africa,
following the
release of details of a US court hearing from two
years ago.
Speaking in 2013 in a hearing in New York over
alleged tax offences, Blazer said : "I also served a
General Secretary of Concacaf from 1990 through
December of 2011, and was responsible for,
among other things, participating in the
negotiations for sponsorship and media rights.
"During my association with Fifa and Concacaf,
among other things, I and others agreed that I or
co-conspirator would commit at least two acts of
racketeering activity. Among other things, I agreed
with other persons in or around 1992 to facilitate
the acceptance of a bribe in conjunction with the
selection of the host nation for the 1998 World
Cup.
"Beginning in or about 1993 and continuing
through the early 2000s, 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. 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. Among other things, my actions above had
common participants and results.
"Between April of 2004 and May 2011, I and other
who were fiduciaries to both Fifa and Concacaf, in
contravention of our duties, I and others, while
acting in our official capacities, agreed to
participate in a scheme to defraud Fifa and
Concacaf to the right to honest services by taking
undisclosed bribes. I and others agreed to use e-
mail, telephone and a wire transfer into and out of
the United States in furtherance of the scheme.
Funds procured through these improper payments
passed through JFK Airport in the form of a check
(cheque).
"Between December 2008 and May 2011, I and
others agreed to and transmitted funds by wire
transfer and cheques from places within the Unite
States to places in the Caribbean, and from places
in the Caribbean to places in the United States. I
agreed to and took these actions to, among other
things, promote and conceal my receipt of bribes
and kickbacks. I knew that the funds involved wer
the proceeds of an unlawful bribe, and I and other
used wires, e-mails and telephone to effectuate
payment of and conceal the nature of the bribe.
Funds procured through these improper payments
passed through JFK airport in the form of a check
(cheque).
"Between 2005 and 2010, while a resident of New
York, New York, I knowingly and wilfully failed to
file an income tax return and failed to pay income
taxes. In this way, I intentionally concealed my tru
income from the IRS, thereby defrauding the IRS o
income tax owed. I knew that my actions were
wrong at the time."
Blazer was part of the Fifa Executive Committee
between 1996 and 2013.
As well as holding a high position within Concacaf
the confederation for North America and the
Caribbean, Blazer was also executive vice-
president of the U.S. soccer federation.
His statement comes in a week which has seen
Sepp Blatter confirm he will step down as Fifa
president, with the FBI due to investigate the Swis
as part of their on-going inquest into alleged Fifa
corruption.