The top American official in the world of soccer announced Saturday that he will not be seeking re-election to a fifth term on FIFA's executive committee.
Chuck Blazer, who has served on the committee for the last 16 years, was widely expected to step down after his involvement in the vote-buying scandal over 2011 FIFA presidential candidate Mohammed bin Hammam.
CONCACAF officially announced on Monday that Ted Howard will be replacing Chuck Blazer as general
secretary, taking the post on an acting basis. Blazer announced several months ago that he would be
stepping down at the end of 2011. Howard has worked for CONCACAF since 1998, holding the title of
deputy secretary general.
Today marks the final day of Chuck Blazer's tenure as general secretary of CONCACAF, an office that
he has held for 21 years. Jack Warner, who had served as CONCACAF president over the same period,
was forced out as a result of his FIFA-imposed suspension six months ago. It brings to a close a
consequential era in the history of the confederation.
Former CONCACAF interim president Lisle Austin has seen his one-year ban by FIFA upheld on appeal.
Austin was banned by FIFA for petitioning an outside court to reinstate him after CONCACAF's
Executive Committee removed him from his post for dismissing then CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck
Blazer. Austin has one more option through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland,
but it's highly likely that he will remain suspended until June.
Success! The Seattle Sounders defeated the Chicago Fire 2-0 to win the U.S. Open Cup for a third
straight year. I admit I had my moments of doubt. Their defense almost seemed prescient in their
ability to intercept passes and shots. Luckily, Fredy Montero scored the go-ahead goal just when I
was mentally preparing for a grueling overtime.
Now, forgive me if I'm wrong here, but I'm happy to see Chucky Blazer retiring at the end of this
year from CONCACAF (and FIFA in 2013 after the WC).Some of you may wonder why though. See, Chucky,
can I call him Chucky, good. Well, Chucky, he's still a little tainted from that whole bribery
before the bribery in CONCACAF that led to the "resignation" of Jack Warner and firing of Mohammad
bin
CONCACAF general secretary, nemesis of Mohammed Bin Hammam, and tabloid story-filler Chuck Blazer
announced today he would step down from his role in the soccer federation at the end of the year. Â
Blazer had been involved in CONCACAF's leadership for ...
Chuck Blazer's run as secretary general of CONCACAF will come to a close at the end of this
year.
Blazer told the Associated Press that he'll be resigning from his post in December after a
21-year run in the position. Blazer added that he will maintain his position on FIFA's executive
committee, for which he won't potentially be up for re-election until 2013.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Caribbean...Jack Warner, the infamous former
CONCACAF boss and FIFA Vice-President, is back in the news.Still smarting from his banishment in
June after almost three decades in the corridors of football power, Warner has taken aim at Chuck
Blazer, his long-term colleague who reported him to the FIFA Ethics Committee for reasons hitherto
By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 16, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Strange times once again at
FIFA. World soccer's governing body is insisting on holding everyone accused of impropriety from
outright ethical lapses to violating the organizations rules to swift and arguably harsh account.
No Confederation has been hit harder than CONCACAF as FIFA attempts a cleanup, and the latest from
FIFA House is that now CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer will face.
The investigations into FIFA's corrupt practices continue, and the attention has again been
focused on American Chuck Blazer.
Andrew Jennings, one of soccer's most outspoken reformers, released a new detailed report
yesterday with a laundry list of accusations against Blazer and his lavish lifestyle.
FIFA's Ethics Committee banned Barbados Football Federation president Lisle Austin for one year on
Wednesday. Austin was briefly the interim president of CONCACAF, before being provisionally
suspended after attempting to fire general secretary Chuck Blazer without authority. He chose to
challenge that suspension in court, getting an injunction to reinstate him from a Bahamas judge.
On Saturday, I was all ready to go. The Rose Bowl, site of the Gold Cup final, would host
90,000-plus fans and I'd be there to give as much of a full account as possible. With A.C. blogging
away even before we got to the stadium, I was also set on providing my own inside info, complete
with pictures and descriptions.
On Saturday, I was all ready to go. The Rose Bowl, site of the Gold Cup final, would host
90,000-plus fans and I'd be there to give as much of a full account as possible. With A.C. blogging
away even before we got to the stadium, I was also set on providing my own inside info, complete
with pictures and descriptions.
The Gold Cup is taking place amidst deepening strife within CONCACAF. It has become ugly.
The Caribbean Football Union is on a collision course with Chuck Blazer, the secretary general
of the federation. Blazer is also the US member of FIFA. The CFU members have asked the FIFA ethics
committee to investigate Blazer for making defamatory statements alleging they had each been paid
$40,000 by Jack Warner or Mohammed Bim Hammam for their votes.
ARLINGTON, Texas - CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer addressed the media for the first
time on Sunday evening following the series of off-field events that have shaken up the
confederation in the lead-up to its flagship tournament.
Blazer arrived in Dallas in time for the opening matches of the 2011 Gold Cup and spoke at a
press conference during halftime of the Cuba-Costa Rica game.
(Note: Still no pictures. Sorry for not having updated in a while; final exams and continued
tech glitches are a powerful combination)
You may be lost about what's going on with CONCACAF. In fact, I'd be surprised if you weren't.
Apparently, while we were all worried about FIFA collapsing under a power struggle driven by
corruption, CONCACAF began collapsing under a power struggle driven by corruption.
Liverpool's captain and his wife, Alex, dined together at Australasia in Manchester around 9pm
last Friday night. Upon leaving with their bellies full, Steven tried his best to avoid the paps.
Alex did not.
Out of the infinite number of cute outfits that exist in this world, the OK!
Well, that was quite out of the blue. A few days ago, reports started fluttering through about
how Arsenal representative Richard Law had travelled to Costa Rica to thrash out a deal for
nineteen year-old striker Joel Campbell with Deportivo Saprissa. And just earlier today, Gunnerblog
revealed that Saprissa's President, Juan Carlos Rojas, has told a radio station of an ‘agreement
in principle' between the two clubs and a virtually completed transfer pending only on personal
terms.
Well, that was quite out of the blue. A few days ago, reports started fluttering through about
how Arsenal representative Richard Law had travelled to Costa Rica to thrash out a deal for
nineteen year-old striker Joel Campbell with Deportivo Saprissa. And just earlier today, Gunnerblog
revealed that Saprissa's President, Juan Carlos Rojas, has told a radio station of an ‘agreement
in principle' between the two clubs and a virtually completed transfer pending only on personal
terms.
Hello there. Finally starting to get back to my daily routine back home after the long trip. A
journey that was worth every single penny spent. The experience will be penned out hopefully in the
next few days and if all goes well, will be up at the Arsenal Collective website.
Chuck Blazer could throw a massive monkey wrench into the New York expansion fun. (Getty
Images)
The writing was possibly too much on the wall for this not to happen. We heard the whispers for
a little while that something could be going wrong in the New York Cosmos to MLS expansion camp.
With the news the other day that Cosmos chairman and CEO Paul Kemsley resigned, you just knew
something else was going on.
Jason and Jared are back, in the usual place, to talk about the craziness that was the past
week. Things start with USMNT talk from Wednesday night's Klinsmania before moving on to Major
League Soccer's new TV contract. Jason has a chat with Ben Berger of footiebusiness.com, then
Jason and Jared hash out announcer candidates.
Welcome back to the State of the States. The plate is loaded this month with MLS in full swing,
the Gold Cup kicking off, FIFA corruption scandals with a CONCACAF epicenter, and the transfer
window looming. Let's begin with CONCACAF...
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Regional Scuffles
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the FIFA infighting and the part the US's own Chuck Blazer,
henchman to the regional despot, is playing in said backstabbery, but I'll leave a proper rundown
and the explanation of what might be happening and why in the far more capable
hands of Grant Wahl.
By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Oct 27, 2011) US Soccer Players -- In this edition, Tony asks about
Steve Nicol, Chuck Blazer, what #6 for the Cosmos can do about the offside law, and if Chris
Wondolowski has a chance to break the MLS record for most goals scored in a three consecutive
seasons. Can you name two former Boston area coaches/managers who will have no trouble getting a
job either in broadcasting.
By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 6, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The last thing anybody
should've wanted to hear from CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer showed up in a press release
yesterday. "My passion for soccer is undiminished and it is time for me to explore new challenges
within this wonderful sport.
How many bribery allegations can a Chuck Blazer chuck? The American soccer bureaucrat has
announced his resignation from the region's governing body of soccer (AP Photo).
Of course, since Chuck Blazer, the second in command at CONCACAF made the bribery allegations
he, too, has come under scrutiny for his offshore bank accounts (which are not mentioned in this
story by Associated Press Sports Writer Ronald Blum:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Chuck Blazer is resigning as the No.
Banned Ex.Co. member Mohamed Bin Hammam has slammed Sepp Blatter and Chuck Blazer following his
expulsion from football last week.
He compared Blatter to a tyrant wiping out his rivals and called for Blazer to go before the FIFA
Ethics Committee for receiving suspicious payments.
Bemoaning his life ban from football, the former Asian Football Confederation chief told Sky News,
"This is the act of the dictators and we have witnessed this through history.
Hey everybody, I hope you've had as enjoyable of a week as I have, and that it keeps going
through the weekend, (East Coast worries notwithstanding, of course. Hope everybody there can stay
safe). I originally planned for this post to be a review of a local watering-hole following
Portland Timbers' match against DC United, but when the rumor of an early start time surfaced on
Thursday my mind wandered from mentally preparing for a lovely evening in a bar to preparing for an
entirely different beast: The Early Morning Kick Off.
After spotting him in the pressbox, I was curious about what LA Times writer Bill Plaschke would
write about - given that he hasn't shown much interest or knowledge about soccer in the past.
Here's his take.
Kevin Baxter wrote on the match itself, but his piece didn't contain his joke about Chuck Blazer's
resemblance to Fat Bastard from the Austin Powers films.
After spotting him in the pressbox, I was curious about what LA Times writer Bill Plaschke would
write about - given that he hasn't shown much interest or knowledge about soccer in the past.
Here's his take.
Kevin Baxter wrote on the match itself, but his piece didn't contain his joke about Chuck Blazer's
resemblance to Fat Bastard from the Austin Powers films.
Cristiano Ronaldo's 79th-minute winner against the Czech Republic prompted a number of joyous
celebrations, but the best of the bunch came from Luis Figo and Eusebio. The two Portuguese legends
were sitting together at the National Stadium in Warsaw -- Eusebio looking well after a few health
scares last winter and Figo wearing a Portugal No.
I arrived tonight in Vancouver, B.C., for the FIFA/CONCACAF Conference on the FIFA Women's World
Cup in Germany 2011. After looking through my brochure, I'm excited to see that many coaches,
instructors and staff from FIFA projects I've worked on previously, and many of my fellow
Americans, will be here.
Now this is interesting. According to SoccerAmerica -remember SoccerAmerica?-- the current
iteration of the New York Cosmos front office is getting blowed up. Paul Gardner's latest,
quasi-bizarrely written treatise for the old-school footie mag throws forth a tale of upheaval
around the MLS expansion pretenders and leaves you with more questions than answers.
Earlier this week I received my review copy of Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of
ESPN, so the first thing I did was jump to the index to find any sections that deal with soccer.
Based on the directions that the index sent me in, and I should note the index seems a bit poor,
the book only focuses on soccer in the context of the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, which
isn't a bad thing, but it seems to leave out the World Wide Leader's dabbling with the Beautiful
Game during the bulk of its 31 years.
Their Words "Right now all I can tell you is that everything is in good hands." CONCACAF general
secretary Chuck Blazer. Other Sources US soccer team preps for Gold Cup match - from The Detroit
Free Press's Jo-Ann Barnas: "Now we have to go out and get the job done." JACK'S 'BOMB' FIZZLES -
from The Trinidad Express's' Keino Swamber: Warner told the crowd gathered at the event that he has
been advised by his.
