Chuck Blazer

American soccer administrator

Charles Gordon "Chuck" Blazer (April 26, 1945 – July 12, 2017) was an American former soccer administrator. He held a number of high level positions before becoming a government informant on widespread corruption within organized soccer.

Chuck Blazer
Born
Charles Gordon Blazer[1][2]

(1945-04-26)April 26, 1945
DiedJuly 12, 2017(2017-07-12) (aged 72)
NationalityAmerican
Known forSoccer administrator, informant
Criminal charge(s)Income tax evasion, money laundering, racketeering, and wire fraud
Criminal statusDeceased

In 2013, Blazer admitted to conspiring with other FIFA Executive Committee members to accept bribes with the failed bid of Morocco and the successful bid of South Africa to become World Cup hosts in 1998 and 2010 respectively. Blazer's admissions came during testimony given at a sealed sentencing proceeding in a New York federal court.[3][4] He was a FIFA Executive Committee member from 1996 to 2013, the CONCACAF General Secretary from 1990 until 2011, and Executive Vice President of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Blazer died of colorectal cancer on July 12, 2017 in a hospital in New Jersey at the age of 72.[5][6] At the time of his death, Blazer suffered from coronary artery disease and diabetes.[7]

References change

  1. "Charles Gordon Blazer". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  2. Jennings, Andrew (2007). Foul! : the secret world of FIFA ; bribes, vote rigging and ticket scandals ([Updated ed.]. ed.). London: HarperSport. p. 138. ISBN 9780007208692.
  3. "The United States of America against Chuck Blazer". U.S. Department of Justice. 2015-06-02. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  4. Bryant, Nick (4 June 2015). "Fifa crisis: Ex-official Chuck Blazer details bribe-taking". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  5. Sports, N. Y. T. (2017-07-12). "Lawyer for Chuck Blazer confirms his death". @NYTSports. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  6. Carlisle, Jeff (2017-07-12). "US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati confirmed to ESPN FC via email that Chuck Blazer passed away". @JeffreyCarlisle. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  7. Ronald Blum (July 12, 2017). "Chuck Blazer, who touched off soccer scandal, dead at 72". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2017.

Other websites change