Ex-American football executive Chuck Blazer dead

Disgraced American football administrator Chuck Blazer, whose admissions of corruption set off a global scandal that ultimately toppled FIFA President Sepp Blatter, passed away at the age of 72.

Blazer's lawyers Eric Corngold and Mary Mulligan announced his death on Wednesday.

According to ESPNFC, Blazer had rectal cancer, diabetes and coronary artery disease.

The former General Secretary of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) pleaded guilty to federal charges during the November 2013 court hearing.

Blazer was banned from football for life in 2015 by FIFA for what the governing body called his "many acts of misconduct" at the organisation and as General Secretary of the Concacaf confederation.

He was banned after his admission that he and others on FIFA's ruling panel agreed to take bribes in voting for the hosts of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, France and South Africa, respectively.

Blazer, who was born on April 26, 1945, in New York City, began as a volunteer soccer administrator to rise to the highest echelons of power within the sport.

For over 20 years, Blazer teamed with former Concacaf President Jack Warner to grow the region's governing body from a small-time outfit into a football marketing powerhouse that helped grow the game and the confederation.

--IANS

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