nemesis12 wrote:Bleacher Report? Really? Too much people here trying to be pop investigators, come with a better source na man
Wha' you on Rfari case for? At least his news was accurate.
My source is Reuteurs!
FIFA whistleblower Chuck Blazer admits he 'agreed to accept bribes'
12520
Wednesday 03 June 2015 21.21
FIFA whistleblower Chuck Blazer has admitted he and other members of the organisation's executive committee agreed to take bribes.
In a testimony published by the United States Department of Justice, Mr 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".
Mr Blazer added: "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".
South Africa denies paying €10m bribe for 2010 World Cup
Meanwhile, a US law enforcement official has confirmed the FBI's investigation of FIFA includes scrutiny of how the organisation awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 competition to Qatar. The official, who spoke under the promise of anonymity, said the review of the awards to host the tournament would be part of a probe that is looking beyond the allegations in an indictment announced a week ago of officials of world soccer's governing body.
Swiss prosecutors said then that they were investigating the 2018 and 2022 bids.
Among issues the FBI is examining is the stewardship of FIFA by its long-time president Sepp Blatter, who yesterday unexpectedly announced his plan to resign.
Meanwhile, Mr Blatter is being investigated by US prosecutors and the FBI, according to reports in US media.
The New York Times and ABC News reported that they have been told by an unnamed source that Mr Blatter is under investigation.
The 79-year-old yesterday unexpectedly announced he is standing down as FIFA president yesterday just days after his controversial re-election for a fifth term.
Mr Blatter has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
FIFA did not respond to a request for comment on him being under investigation.
The US Justice Department and the US Attorney's office had no immediate comment.
The office of the Swiss Attorney General, which is investigating alleged criminal mismanagement and money laundering at FIFA, said Mr Blatter's resignation would have no effect on its proceedings.
It also said Mr Blatter himself was not subject to its investigation.
Timeline of Blatter's FIFA departure
He announced his decision to step down at a hastily arranged news conference in Zurich, six days after police raided a hotel in the city and arrested several FIFA officials.
He said an election to choose a new president would be held as soon as possible, though a FIFA official said it would probably not take place until at least December.
"FIFA needs profound restructuring," Mr Blatter said. "I decided to stand again to be elected because I was convinced it was the best option for football.
"Although the members of FIFA gave me a new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world."
South Africa denies $10m payment to former FIFA executive
Earlier, South Africa again denied that a payment of $10m to former FIFA vice president Jack Warner during their successful bid for the 2010 World Cup was a bribe.
Sports minister Fikile Mbalula told a news conference that neither South Africa's government nor the 2010 World Cup bid and organising committee bought votes for the right to host the finals.
It comes as Interpol has issued international wanted-person alerts for two former FIFA officials, including Jack Warner, and four corporate executives at the request of US authorities as part of a corruption investigation.
Interpol said it issued so-called red notices - not an international arrest warrant - for Mr Warner, former president of CONCACAF which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, and Nicolas Leoz, the former head of South America's soccer federation.
The others are Alejandro Burzaco, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis, who are among soccer officials and sports media and promotion executives hit with US corruption charges involving more than $150 million in bribes.
The fourth executive is Jose Margulies, a Brazilian citizen who headed two offshore companies that were involved in the broadcasting of soccer matches.
Blatter decision to step down welcomed by critics
Mr Blatter's decision to step down as FIFA is mired in the worst crisis in its history was welcomed by his critics.
European football federation chief Michel Platini, and favourite to replace Mr Blatter said: "It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision."
The second favourite on the list, Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, who withdrew from last week's election after winning 73 votes to Blatter's 133 in the first round, stopped short of confirming he would run again.
Asked if there should be a fresh start at FIFA, he told Channel 4 News: "I'm willing to help."
Former Portugese soccer player Luís Figo is also said to have a chance of being elected.
The 42-year-old was in the running for FIFA President earlier this year before withdrawing one week before the election.
President of the Dutch Football Association Michael van Praag also ran for FIFA President this year but withdrew days before the election.
Mr van Praag was one of Sepp Blatter’s most vocal critics ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Greg Dyke, chairman of the English Football Association and one of Mr Blatter's critics, said it was "good news for world football", but then questioned Mr Blatter's motive.
"Who got him? Who shot him?" he asked. "I don't believe he went for any sort of moral basis so something has happened between then and now which means he has to resign."
FIFA was stunned last week by the announcement of a US investigation into alleged widespread financial wrongdoing stretching back more than two decades.
Swiss authorities also launched their own criminal investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively.
While Mr Blatter was not mentioned in the US or Swiss investigations, there had been widespread calls for him to quit, mostly from Western nations. Some major sponsors also expressed misgivings about the impact of the scandal.
Coca-Cola Co and Adidas welcomed Mr Blatter's resignation. Another World Cup sponsor, South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor, said the move was "a positive first step".
The investigation closed in on Mr Blatter yesterday, when FIFA denied that his right-hand man, Secretary-General Jerome Valcke, was implicated in a $10 million payment relating to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that is at the heart of the US case.
At the same time, a letter addressed to Mr Valcke from the South African Football Association was published outlining the transaction.
Hours later FIFA called the emergency news conference and Mr Blatter, who became FIFA secretary general in 1981 and president 17 years later, announced his decision.
Mr Valcke has said he felt no guilt over his involvement in the transfer, adding he would not resign straight away because of the corruption scandal, but could leave when a new president takes over.
"I have nothing to blame myself for and I certainly do not feel guilty so I do not even have to justify my innocence," the French official told the France Info radio station.
Source: AFP/Reuters
http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0603/705473-fifa/
