US official Blazer to leave FIFA executive seat

NEW YORK (AP) - The American member of FIFA's executive committee who public with bribery accusations against his boss two years ago said he won't seek re-election for a fifth term and will leave his position in May after 16 years.

Chuck Blazer is the most senior American official in world soccer but his departure was expected after his role in the scandal over presidential election candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

"It is time for new faces with new energy to take over the responsibility of FIFA's leadership,'' the 67-year-old Blazer said Saturday in a statement.

In 2011, he said that CONCACAF president Jack Warner and Asian confederation head Mohamed bin Hammam attempted to bribe Caribbean delegates $40,000 each to vote for Bin Hammam in the FIFA presidential election.