Former FIFA official confessed to bribes and kickbacks

In the United States published materials of court hearings, during which the former senior FIFA official Chuck Blazer admitted his guilt.

A former member of the CONCACAF leadership said that he and other members of the FIFA leadership had taken bribes for electing South Africa as the host country of the 2010 World Cup.

Blazer also admitted to taking bribes for the 1998 World Cup of the year.

Law enforcement agencies of the United States opened a criminal case against FIFA officials, as a result of which the president of this organization, Sepp Blatter, was forced to resign.

Last week, the US Public Prosecutor’s Office filed accusations against 14 of FIFA officials for extortion, bribes and money laundering. By this time, four other suspects had already been charged, including Chuck Blazer.

The US Department of Justice accuses them of accepting bribes and kickbacks totaling more than 150 million dollars over the last 24 of the year.

Bribes and kickbacks

Seven of the 14 officials were arrested in Zurich, where they arrived at the FIFA congress. Two of them are vice presidents of this organization.

Details of the recognition of Blazer are contained in the transcript of the proceedings of the hearings held in 2013 in the Eastern District Court in New York.

Blazer 1990 to 2011 was the second year in its rank official of the Confederation of Football of North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF). He was also a member of the FIFA executive committee from 1997 to 2013 year.

“Beginning in approximately 2004 and continuing until 2011, I and other members of the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in connection with the selection of South Africa as host of the 2010 World Cup,” Blazer said.

“I and others agreed to accept bribes and kickbacks in connection with broadcast rights and other rights to the 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Gold Cups (CONCACAF Gold Cup - regional championship for national teams, until 1991 - CONCACAF Nations Championship - ed.)".

Blazer was arrested by federal agents for tax evasion. After being charged, he agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

As reported, Chuck Blazer also agreed to record his conversations with colleagues on a microphone, hidden in a key fob.