CHUCK BLAZER, the "disgraced" U.S. football exec whose admissions of corruption "set off a global scandal that ultimately toppled FIFA President SEPP BLATTER," died, aged 72, according to the London TELEGRAPH. Blazer's death was announced on Wednesday by his lawyers, ERIC CORNGOLD and MARY MULLIGAN. At a Nov. '13 court hearing during which Blazer entered guilty pleas to federal charges, Blazer said that he had rectal cancer, diabetes and coronary artery disease. With "huge girth, charm, wit and a pet parrot, Blazer cut a large figure as he made deals from an office and apartment in Trump Tower." Blazer accused former CONCACAF President JACK WARNER and fellow exec committee member MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM of offering $40,000 bribes to voters in the '11 FIFA presidential election. But it "turned out Blazer's conduct was as corrupt as the actions of the people he accused." A CONCACAF investigation report released in '13 said that Blazer "misappropriated CONCACAF funds to finance his personal lifestyle," causing the organization to "subsidise rent on his residence in the Trump Tower in New York; purchase apartments at the Mondrian, a luxury hotel and residence in Miami; sign purchase agreements and pay down payments on apartments at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas" (TELEGRAPH, 7/13). The BBC reported Blazer's information led to charges against 14 other current or former FIFA officials, and "contributed to the downfall" of Blatter. Blazer's lawyers said, "His misconduct, for which he accepted full responsibility, should not obscure Chuck's positive impact on international soccer." The '13 CONCACAF report said that he received more than $20.6M in commissions, fees and rental payments from the organization between '96 and '11 (BBC, 7/13). The AP reported it was "in part through Blazer's efforts that FIFA chose the U.S. to host the 1994 World Cup." He was named to FIFA's exec committee in '97, and he remained there until '13. U.S. national team coach BRUCE ARENA said, "I've known Chuck for a lot of years. He did a lot for the sport. Sorry about all the issues regarding FIFA, but he was a good man. He helped the sport in the United States" (AP, 7/12). REUTERS reported FIFA expressed its condolences to Blazer's family "but made no further comment on how Blazer's death would impact the corruption probe." A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in N.Y., which is overseeing the FIFA probe, "did not respond to a request for comment" (REUTERS, 7/13).
