In previously sealed testimony released for the first time on Wednesday, former FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer revealed that he and other FIFA ExCo members accepted bribes related to bids for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups hosted by France and South Africa.
The testimony, which Blazer offered as part of a guilty plea in the Eastern District of New York back in November 2013, comes a day after FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced his plans to step down from his post. Last week nine FIFA officials and five businessmen were indicted by US authorities on charges of racketeering, conspiracy and corruption charges.
"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," Blazer testified. "Beginning in or about 1993 and continuing through the early 2000s, I and others agreed to accept bribes and kickbacks in conjunction with the broadcast and other rights to the 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003 Gold Cups.
"Beginning in or around 2004 and continuing through 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."
The 70-year-old Blazer served as FIFA executive committee member from 1997 through 2013 and as CONCACAF secretary general from 1990 to 2011.
US investigators last week revealed for the first time that Blazer pled guilty in 2013 to 10 federal counts, including racketeering, fraud, money laundering and tax evasion.
