U.S. prosecutors have unsealed a transcription from a hearing in late 2013 in which former FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer admitted that leadership accepted bribes while awarding tournaments to host countries. The release of the 40-page document comes amid a large crackdown by U.S. authorities, who recently arrested several top officials from the global soccer organization on corruption charges. According to the court transcript, Blazer admitted to receiving large bribes on several occasions:
Beginning in or around 2004 and continuing through 2011, 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 … Beginning in or about 1993 and continuing through the early 2000s, I and others agreed to accept bribes and kickbacks in conjunction with the broadcast and other rights to the 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Gold Cups.
Last week, Sepp Blatter, who has served as FIFA’s president for nearly two decades, announced that he would be stepping down as reports emerged that he too was being investigated by the FBI …
