CONCACAF general secretary, nemesis of Mohammed Bin Hammam, and <a href="http:\/\/www.transparencyinsport.org/Chucks_world_of_offshore_bank_accounts/Images-Chucks_offshore_bank_accounts_(p2)/13-chuck-blazer-and-dr-ruth(full-size).jpg" target="_blank">tabloid story-filler Chuck Blazer</a> announced today he would step down from his role in the soccer federation at the end of the year. &nbsp;Blazer had been involved in CONCACAF’s leadership for two decades and his resignation is certainly the end of an era. &nbsp;He will, however, keep his FIFA executive committee spot, <a href="http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-06/chuck-blazer-says-he-ll-retire-as-concacaf-general-secretary-at-year-s-end.html" target="_blank">according to Bloomberg</a>, but has not decided if he will run for reelection in 2013.
“My passion for soccer is undiminished and it is time for me to explore new challenges within this wonderful sport,” <a href="http:\/\/www.concacaf.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2474635,00.html" target="_blank">he said in a CONCACAF statement</a>. &nbsp;“Running a governing body has been an incredibly fulfilling job, but there are so many other areas of the sport where as a senior executive, I will make a great impact.”
CONCACAF has not announced who will replaced Blazer but the resignation comes after a tumultuous few months. &nbsp;<a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/accusations-ramp-up-against-fifas-chuck-blazer-13629" target="_blank">As we reported on this site in August</a>, Blazer was under investigation by the FBI for a variety of alleged tax evasions and failures to report income. &nbsp;This of course came after Blazer’s role as a whistle blower when in June he accused Bin Hammam and then-CONCACAF President Jack Warner of colluding to buy votes from the Caribbean Football Union for the former’s FIFA presidential campaign. &nbsp;In the aftermath, Lisle Austin of Barbados tried to force Blazer’s removal from the soccer governing body, a move that was later overturned.
I have no doubt Blazer will continue to lurk in the North American soccer landscape, no doubt finding a comfortable place to land and maintain his lifestyle. &nbsp;If you think this is the last we’ve heard of him, you will be sorely mistaken. &nbsp;That said, this is the end of an era for CONCACAF. &nbsp;The confederation saw some massive financial gains under Blazer and an increase in the prestige of its members, mostly driven by the successes of the U.S. and Mexico. &nbsp;Blazer also was key in securing ESPN’s bid for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, which has helped drive some growth in soccer viewership in the U.S. as well as a healthy American audience for last year’s World Cup.
However, this is a prime opportunity for CONCACAF to turn the page on this year’s terrible scandals and rebuild itself. &nbsp;The confederation has at least two top-rate soccer federations (Mexico and, yes, the U.S.) as well as some smaller soccer associations that can be legitimately be described as up-and-coming. &nbsp;Two countries have already hosted World Cups and a third is a prime destination for a future one (Canada). &nbsp;In short, while CONCACAF will never be UEFA, it has a chance to be one of the better confederations in FIFA. &nbsp;Failure to enact some ethics reforms and refocus its priorities will lead to it be passed by the AFC and CAF.

Chuck Blazer Steps Down from CONCACAF - World Soccer Talk

Chuck Blazer Steps Down from CONCACAF

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The investigations into FIFA’s corrupt practices continue, and the attention has again been focused on American Chuck Blazer.
Andrew Jennings, one of soccer’s most outspoken reformers, <a href="http:\/\/www.transparencyinsport.org/Chucks_world_of_offshore_bank_accounts/chucks_world_of_offshore_bank_accounts(page1).html" target="_blank">released a new detailed report yesterday</a> with a laundry list of accusations against Blazer and his lavish lifestyle. &nbsp;Jennings claims the FBI has now begun investigating the FIFA official’s bank accounts for some very suspicious payments and for failure to report income, a very serious charge that the federal government does not take lightly in high-profile cases. &nbsp;When we had left the FIFA/CONCACAF drama, Blazer had outed CONCACAF’s Jack Warner for bribery on behalf of FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hamman. &nbsp;According to Jenning’s report, it seems as though Blazer was more involved with Warner’s wrong-doing than previously understood, if the reports are accurate.
Some of the story’s more juicy details include:
<ul>
<li>Blazer received (and repaid) a payment of $250,000 from the Caribbean Football Union, which was controlled by Warner and which Blazer claims Warner was illegally writing checks from the bank account. &nbsp;This was in addition to large payments made to Blazer in September 2010.</li>
<li>Blazer allegedly held a retreat in his $3 million apartment at the Reef Atlantis Paradise Island resort last month for Caribbean officials sympathetic to him. &nbsp;He allegedly owns the resort property which is paid for through a series of companies connected to a Nassau bank where he supposedly has an account.</li>
<li>He receives a ton of commissions from regional sports marketing companies with connections to Warner, including making $2 million allegedly off one such contract.</li>
<li>Two of his children have worked for him, including his son who currently works as CONCACAF’s chief medical officer which pays $7,000 a month.</li>
<li>Including an apartment above the CONCACAF offices in Trump Towers, Blazer has property in North Carolina (farmhouse) and Miami (waterfront apartment).</li>
<li>Most stomach churning for me, Jennings uncovers <a href="http:\/\/www.transparencyinsport.org/Chucks_world_of_offshore_bank_accounts/Images-Chucks_offshore_bank_accounts_(p2)/13-chuck-blazer-and-dr-ruth(full-size).jpg" target="_blank">a picture</a> of Blazer and his girlfriend chatting with Dr. Ruth Westheimer.</li>
</ul>
All kidding aside, these are serious accusations that cast new light on the CONCACAF drama that occurred around the World Cup 2022 bid. &nbsp;Jennings is known for his dogged investigation into the bribed FIFA executive committee members and subsequent exposé&nbsp;which some have blamed for England not even advancing past the first round in the 2018 World Cup voting. &nbsp;His level of detail is also in-depth and while some of it can be dismissed by supporters as unsubstantiated, his lavish lifestyle is disconcerting.
Of course, this is not the first time we’ve heard of<a href="http:\/\/www.bigsoccer.com/wp/mel-brennan/2011/05/30/now-is-the-time-how-we-are-the-leaders-we-are-looking-for-in-world-football/" target="_blank"> Blazer’s antics</a>, but the fact that the Feds are involved takes it to a whole new level. &nbsp;The FBI loves to investigate financial crimes and has a <a href="http:\/\/www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/al-capone" target="_blank">high-profile history</a> of&nbsp;successfully&nbsp;prosecuting them. &nbsp;Expect during the upcoming months to hear drips of leaked information about Blazer and some more of his interesting monetary expenditures, but the biggest take-away from this exposé&nbsp;is kind of what we expected: there’s allegedly more to the story of Chuck Blazer’s attempted FIFA clean-up.

Accusations Ramp Up Against FIFA's Chuck Blazer - World Soccer Talk

Accusations Ramp Up Against FIFA's Chuck Blazer

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Chuck Blazer Steps Down from CONCACAF

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Accusations Ramp Up Against FIFA's Chuck Blazer