BY TIM PARSONS
Fifa has banned former executive committee member , Chuck Blazer, from all football related activity for life.
The 70 year old shamed official worked as an undercover gross for prosecutors in the United States after he pleaded guilty to charges of bribery, money laundering and tax evasion. The ban comes 2 days after Fifa banned another official,, Harold Mayne Nichols, for 7 years for apparent misconduct when he arranged for unpaid internship for his relatives.
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Both the ban and the suspension were probably overdue, but they still raise questions as to whether Fifa is now playing to the gallery and trying to appear honourable after their reputation has been blown away almost beyond repair. Most people believe fifa should have known about the fraudulent endeavours of its members a long time ago, given how long they managed to fraudulently peddle so much corrupt funds around. Furthermore, the 7 years suspension meted out a couple of days ago seems harsh and begs the question as to whether their is an ulterior motive behind it. After all, we are talking about a man who had contested the presidential position in fifa that had been occupied by Sepp Blatter for far too long, in what itself has the appearance of impropriety. This same man alerted officials that Quatar was too hot to host a world cup, prompting Fifa to shift the timing of the tournament to the winter period. Suddenly, he gets 7 years, why so long?
No justification has so far been presented for the lengthy ban, and it might be that fifa is using their own personal issues as a smokescreen for venting their grievances against officials that have disappointed them not only in terms of the allegations of fraud and money laundering, but also other issues about which they may have had a vested interest. A statement from fifa alleged Chuck Blazer to have ”committed many and various acts of misconduct”. Nicholls allegedly repeatedly asked for personal favors, requesting special favors for family members. Those favors, according to the Telegraph, included asking for professional tennis coaching in Quatar in which he attempted to pass on email details to facilitate the arrangement for his request. Nicholls may have been abusing his power, but 7 years punishment is not proportionate the stated offence outlined by fifa. Could this be a guise in an attempt to restore credibility?
In total, 14 people were indicted, with the US justice department alleging bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m (£97m) over a 24-year period. Blazer was the second highest official in Fifa’s North and Central American and Caribbean region (Concacaf) from 1990 to 2011 and also served on Fifa’s executive committee between 1997 and 2013
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