FIFA President Sepp Blatter (R), chairman of the local organizing committee (LOC), and FIFA Confederations Cup chairman Chuck Blazer present the official match ball during a news conference in Frankfurt, Germany, in this June 13, 2005 file photo. — Reuters o Blazer says 1998, 2010 Cups tainted o Warner alleges FIFA link to Trinidad election
NEW YORK — US prosecutors have detailed evidence of corruption at the highest levels of FIFA, tainting the award of hosting rights to the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, as police investigations spread Thursday to Australia. Testimony from disgraced former North American football supremo Chuck Blazer said that FIFA executives conspired to accept bribes during the bidding for the 1998 and 2010 cups, hosted by France and South Africa. Blazer's testimony, shown in unsealed court documents, is a key plank in the US investigation against FIFA, which federal prosecutors are pursuing as a “Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization.” The revelation comes after the sensational resignation of veteran FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, who received a standing ovation during an emotional appearance in front of his staff Wednesday. A source close to FIFA told Reuters it was Blatter's advisers who had told him he must quit. Critics pointed to the widening criminal probe, disquiet among sponsors, and pressure from European soccer body UEFA as possible reasons. Blazer — who is presently out on bail and being treated for cancer — has admitted to a raft of charges related to his leadership of the North and Central American soccer body CONCACAF and membership of FIFA's executive committee. In a plea deal with US prosecutors, the 70-year-old agreed to wear a microphone and record conversations with fellow FIFA executives. In the papers released, the other FIFA members identified as co-conspirators are not named. “Among other things, 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 said in his plea. France eventually beat Morocco in the bidding to stage that tournament. Another court document, detailing the charges, says that Blazer was present when a co-conspirator accepted a bribe in Morocco. Blazer goes on to admit that he and “others on the FIFA executive committee” agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa to host the World Cup in 2010. South African officials have angrily denied allegations by US investigators that they paid $10 million in bribes to secure the rights. South African police said Thursday they were looking into corruption claims surrounding the 2010 World Cup after a request from an opposition party, but stressed that no formal investigation had been launched. Central to the claims about South Africa is former FIFA vice president and former head of CONCACAF Jack Warner, who was placed on Interpol's most wanted list Wednesday along with five other people. The $10 million transfer went from the South African authorities to Warner, and was made through FIFA, although football's governing body says it was just the intermediary in the transaction. Reports say US investigators believe FIFA's combative secretary general Jerome Valcke authorized the transfer and the money was intended as a bribe. But Valcke, who was effectively Blatter's right-hand man, insists that he had nothing to do with it. Warner added another explosive dimension to the combustible drama by alleging a link between FIFA and 2010 elections held in his native Trinidad and Tobago. Warner also said he fears for his life. He said in a televised broadcast that he had compiled a dossier showing unspecified links between FIFA, himself, funding channels and two leading political parties contesting that election. The TV6 website reported that Warner said the file “also deals with my knowledge of international transactions at FIFA, including its president Mr. Sepp Blatter and, lastly, other matters involving (Trinidad's) current prime minister.” Warner also indicated he would fight extradition to the US. “I have no intention of allowing them to deprive me of my freedom,” he said. US authorities have already charged 14 football officials, including Warner, and sports company executives over more than $150 million in bribes. In parallel to the US inquiry, Swiss prosecutors are looking into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. The FBI's investigation already includes scrutiny of how FIFA awarded the World Cups to Russia and Qatar. Australian police are also looking into corruption claims around Australia's failed 2022 bid, with Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy saying FIFA's bidding for that tournament was “not clean.” Qatar said Blatter's resignation would have “no impact” on its World Cup preparations. The Kremlin also said Russia was “surprised” by the resignation but it was also going ahead with plans. South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-joon, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, who was beaten by Blatter in a vote last Friday, and Brazilian football legend Zico all said they could take part. Most eyes in the FIFA succession race remain on Michel Platini, the UEFA president who oversaw the 1998 World Cup in France. The vote is not expected until December at the earliest. — Agencies
