FIFA hands Blazer lifetime ban
GENEVA — Chuck Blazer was banned for life by FIFA’s ethics committee Thursday for widespread corruption, finally ending the career of the longtime most senior American in world soccer.
The ban from all soccerrelated duties was a formality after Blazer, a former FIFA executive committee member, pleaded guilty to racketeering and tax-evasion charges were unsealed in May by United States federal agencies.
FIFA’s ethics panel made its ruling using evidence from the American federal case that has plunged FIFA and international soccer into crisis.
“(Blazer) was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, payment and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, bribes and kickbacks as well as other money-making schemes,” the FIFA ethics committee said in a statement.
Blazer, 70, pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, and income tax evasion.
He admitted receiving payments in a $10 million bribe scheme to support South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
Blazer also admitted involvement in World Cup ticket scams and abusing his position as CONCACAF general secretary to take millions of dollars in kickbacks from commercial deals he negotiated for the Gold Cup tournament.
He was a cooperating witness with United States federal agencies since 2011 after his tax affairs were investigated.