FIFA whistleblower Chuck Blazer has admitted facilitating the acceptance of bribes over the awarding of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.
Blazer admitted he and others on FIFA’s executive committee member took bribes in a testimony published by the United States Department of Justice.
Blazer, the former FIFA executive committee member, CONCACAF general secretary and executive vice president of the US Soccer Federation, said in the testimony: “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.
“I and others agree that I or a co-conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity.
“Beginning in, or around, 2004 and continuing to 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.
“While acting in our official capacities we agreed to participate in a scheme to defraud FIFA and CONCACAF on the right to honest services by taking undisclosed bribes.”
The American, now seriously ill, added back in 2013 that he also accepted backhanders for the CONCACAF affiliated Gold Cups, equivalent to the UEFA European Championship.
He added: “In and around 1993 and continuing through the early 2000s I and others agreed to accept bribes and kick-backs in conjunction with the broadcast and other rights to the ’96, ’98, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Gold Cups.”
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Credit: Sky Sports