Chuck Blazer, a disgraced former FIFA official who later acted as a whistleblower to uncover corruption in the organisation, has died at the age of 72. He had been suffering from rectal cancer, diabetes and coronary artery disease at the time of his death.
Blazer was a mercurial figure, often seen walking his pet macaw around New York City (where he lived). He also took residence in Trump Tower and had a unit specifically for his cats. However, his later career was mired in scandal when he was accused of money laundering, bribery and tax evasion. He was found guilty in 2013 after being arrested while on the way to his favourite restaurant in 2011, and quickly agreed to help investigators in a plea bargain. Plea bargains are very common in the USA, with the majority of criminal cases settled this way rather than through a jury trial.
As whistleblower, the former boss of Concacaf (North and Central America's equivalent of UEFA) helped expose corruption in FIFA, leading to charges against 14 then-serving or former FIFA officials. His revelations also contributed directly to the downfall of Sepp Blatter who, despite various accusations, faux-pas and scandals over the years, seemed invincible.
Credit: PA
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Blazer got into football while coaching his son's soccer team, discovering he had a passion (and skill) for administration (rather than tactics). He rose through the ranks gradually (with the help of Pele) and was an important figure in the USA's successful bid to host the 1994 World Cup.
However, while serving on FIFA's executive committee, Blazer pocketed over £16 million ($20,680,000) , in commissions, fees and rental payments from the football body between 1996 and 2011, and when he became more high profile was widely viewed as a figurehead of the organisations excess and greed.
Credited as a huge driving force in the development of football in America (and then throughout the Concacaf region), his lavish lifestyle and subsequent corruption convictions (which saw him banned from all footballing activity in 2015 despite his plea bargain) have likely overshadowed his legacy.
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A statement from Blazer's lawyers said his crimes "should not obscure Chuck's positive impact on international soccer. Chuck felt profound sorrow and regret for his action. He expressed sincere remorse towards his former constituents and colleagues, and to all of the soccer players disappointed by his conduct. With Chuck's guidance and leadership, Concacaf transformed itself from impoverished to profitable, with substantial benefits and improvements to all member associations, players and fans."
"Throughout his adult life, Chuck felt great pride in his service to soccer. In fact, he devoted 30 years of his life to soccer at all levels of the game, with his involvement ranging from coaching his children's youth teams to serving on Fifa's executive committee."
While working for FIFA, the larger-than-life exec had a blog on which he regularly posted images of himself (and his parrot) rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of football and politics, including former stars Pele and Bobby Charlton, as well as the late South African president and Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela.
Source: BBC, Guardian, Bargains
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Words: Ronan O'Shea