This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40590960
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Chuck Blazer, disgraced ex-Fifa official, dies aged 72 | Chuck Blazer, disgraced ex-Fifa official, dies aged 72 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Disgraced US football official Chuck Blazer has died at the age of 72, his lawyers say. | Disgraced US football official Chuck Blazer has died at the age of 72, his lawyers say. |
| Blazer, who was banned from all football activities for life in 2015, had been suffering from cancer. | Blazer, who was banned from all football activities for life in 2015, had been suffering from cancer. |
| In 2013 he pleaded guilty to bribery, money laundering and tax evasion but agreed to help investigators expose corruption in Fifa. | In 2013 he pleaded guilty to bribery, money laundering and tax evasion but agreed to help investigators expose corruption in Fifa. |
| A larger-than-life character, he was ex-boss of Concacaf, North and Central American football's governing body. | A larger-than-life character, he was ex-boss of Concacaf, North and Central American football's governing body. |
| His information led to charges against 14 other current or former Fifa officials, and contributed to the downfall of Sepp Blatter, the organisation's president. | |
| "We are truly saddened by the passing of our client and friend, Chuck Blazer," his lawyers said in a statement. | "We are truly saddened by the passing of our client and friend, Chuck Blazer," his lawyers said in a statement. |
| "His misconduct, for which he accepted full responsibility, should not obscure Chuck's positive impact on international soccer." | "His misconduct, for which he accepted full responsibility, should not obscure Chuck's positive impact on international soccer." |
| The official served on Fifa's executive committee from 1997-2013, during which time he pocketed millions to fund a globe-trotting VIP lifestyle. | The official served on Fifa's executive committee from 1997-2013, during which time he pocketed millions to fund a globe-trotting VIP lifestyle. |
| A 2013 report by Concacaf's integrity committee said he had received more than $20.6m (£16m) in commissions, fees and rental payments from the organisation between 1996 and 2011. | A 2013 report by Concacaf's integrity committee said he had received more than $20.6m (£16m) in commissions, fees and rental payments from the organisation between 1996 and 2011. |
| His personal excesses included two apartments in New York's Trump Tower, one of which was exclusively for his cats. | His personal excesses included two apartments in New York's Trump Tower, one of which was exclusively for his cats. |
| Analysis: A complex legacy | |
| By Richard Conway, BBC Sports News correspondent | |
| Chuck Blazer leaves behind a complex legacy to football. | |
| He helped develop the game in the US and then across his confederation. | |
| But he also personally enriched himself and was emblematic of the greed and corruption that festered within world football for many years. | |
| However, it was his evidence that was instrumental in the arrest and prosecution of scores of Fifa and marketing executives, a process that became publicly known with dramatic dawn raids in Zurich in 2015 and is still continuing. | |
| In his blog Travels with Chuck Blazer and his Friends..., he was pictured enjoying time with football legends like Pele and Bobby Charlton, and other high-profile names like Prince William and Hillary Clinton. | In his blog Travels with Chuck Blazer and his Friends..., he was pictured enjoying time with football legends like Pele and Bobby Charlton, and other high-profile names like Prince William and Hillary Clinton. |
| He also introduced readers to his pet parrot, a blue-and-gold macaw named Max Blazer, even uploading a video of the bird dancing on the basket of his mobility scooter in New York's Central Park. | He also introduced readers to his pet parrot, a blue-and-gold macaw named Max Blazer, even uploading a video of the bird dancing on the basket of his mobility scooter in New York's Central Park. |
| His luck ran out when he tried to conceal his income after failing to file tax returns from 2005 to 2010. | His luck ran out when he tried to conceal his income after failing to file tax returns from 2005 to 2010. |
| According to one account, Mr Blazer was arrested by the FBI and an Internal Revenue Service official in 2011 as he rode his scooter to a favourite New York restaurant. | According to one account, Mr Blazer was arrested by the FBI and an Internal Revenue Service official in 2011 as he rode his scooter to a favourite New York restaurant. |
| "We can take you away in handcuffs now, or you can co-operate," he was reportedly told. | "We can take you away in handcuffs now, or you can co-operate," he was reportedly told. |
| Mr Blazer made his choice, and agreed to become an informant to help the US government expose corruption in football. | Mr Blazer made his choice, and agreed to become an informant to help the US government expose corruption in football. |