Former FIFA President Chuck Blazer has admitted to receiving bribes from two World Cup hosts, France in 1998 and South Africa in 2010.
Blazer is facing charges for racketeering, money laundering, income tax evasion and wire fraud after pleading guilty, admitting that he and other top officials of the The Fédération Internationale de Football Association were accepting payments from both French and African countries to ensure their hosting of the global football events.
"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 also added that he "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."
Different countries host the biggest global football competition held every four years. The most recent one was the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Gaining millions from the media and sponsors, Blazer also pleaded guilty for accepting bribery from different companies for broadcast rights.
The former FIFA executive could have been sentenced for 20 years in jail if he did not agree to participate in the U.S. Department of Justice investigation.
The DOJ has named 14 corrupt FIFA officials and corporate executives, including former vice president Jack Warner, and former executive committee member Nicolas Leoz. Charges on racketeering, conspiracy, and corruption were filed against them by Interpol.
FIFA's current president, Sepp Blatter also stepped down from his position on June 2, and is reported to be under FBI investigation on World Cup bids for the succeeding sports events, in Russia on 2018, and in Qatar on 2022.
Blatter tells The New York Times, "FIFA needs a profound restructuring." He added that him recognizing his faults is his reason for leaving the association.