Former FIFA executive Chuck Blazer has admitted taking a bribe to back both France’98 and South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
The man nicknamed “Mr 10%” admitted to a catalogue of corruption before a US judge, and incriminated other executives in his 2013 evidence, which has just been released.
The court transcript reveals Blazer said: “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.
“Among other things, my actions described above had common participants and results.”
However, Sky News is reporting that Blazer also admitted to accepting gratification to ensure France hosted the World Cup in 1998, which incidentally the host nation went on to win for their only trophy.
Meanwhile, a US law enforcement official has confirmed the FBI corruption investigation into FIFA includes scrutiny of how it awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 competition to Qatar.
The Russia 2018 Chief Executive Alexei Sorokin told Sky Sports News HQ last week that their bid team did nothing wrong, saying: “We did everything the process wanted us to do. So we don’t know what else we can contribute.
“We’ve repeatedly said the process was transparent,” he added. “We’re not afraid or concerned with any investigations.
“It’s strange that there is a chance to go through the same thing again, where everything was seemingly closed.”
It is Blazer’s testimony that is believed to have prompted FIFA President Sepp Blatter to have had a re-think and tender his resignation just a few days after winning a fifth term.
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