The World football governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), has banned former Executive Committee Member and ex-Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) General Secretary, Chuck Blazer, from all football related activity for life.
The decision was taken as Blazer was said to have worked undercover with prosecutors in the United States after pleading guilty to charges of bribery, money laundering and tax evasion.
According to FIFA, the decision was taken on the basis of investigations carried out by the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee in response to the final report of the CONCACAF Integrity Committee and the latest facts presented by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
”Mr Blazer committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF.
”In his positions as a football official, he 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.
”He was found guilty of violations of art. 13 (General rules of conduct), art. 15 (Loyalty), art. 16 (Confidentiality), art. 18 (Duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) and art. 21 (Bribery and corruption) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
Mr Blazer had told a federal judge that he “agreed to accept bribes” to bring the World Cup to South Africa in 2010 and also helped to “facilitate” a bribe in connection with selecting France to host the tournament in 1998.
However, South Africa has denied the bribed allegations that it gave bribe to secure the hosting of the World Cup in 2010.
