Blazer questions FIFA investigation

NEW YORK (AP) -- Chuck Blazer, the general-secretary of CONCACAF, said there was considerable cause for putting the confidentiality of an investigation into FIFA's finances into question.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was forced by the executive committee to accept an audit last month. On April 11, he suspended the investigation, citing a breach of confidentiality by an unnamed member.

In a letter sent to FIFA's Scottish vice president David Will, who is leading the investigation, Blazer said a secretary working for Will was discussing confidential matters with a representative Chung Moon-joon of Korea.

The secretary's notes "were being discussed by him and a representative of Dr. Chung, who had been left behind to collect information in his absence," Blazer, a member of the FIFA Internal Audit Committee and FIFA Executive Committee, said in the letter, which was released Wednesday.

"I objected and said that it was neither the purpose for which you had been granted a secretary nor a proper disclosure, especially since Dr. Chung's representative had not signed nor agreed to the confidentiality document ... nor had Dr. Chung at that point signed it."

Blazer, who said he still wasn't sure whether Chung or his representative had signed the agreement, said he gave Will a copy of a wire story from Australia that said Chung was making political statements and quoting amounts of loans, and later saw him on television making the same statements.

"I lodged my objection with you at the meeting and you simply brushed it off saying that he might have had that information from other sources," Blazer wrote.

"Mr. Chairman, your response was totally inadequate and was regrettably consistent with responses to other failures which I brought to your attention."

Blazer said he sent copies of the stories which contained information given to the committee to Blatter.

"He [Blatter] acted properly to preserve the integrity of FIFA and its Executive Committee," Blazer wrote.

Blatter, a Swiss, has been accused by his critics of trying to cover up FIFA's financial losses after the $300 million collapse of ISL/ISMM, the company that held the marketing rights for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

"If he has nothing to hide, then let the truth be established," UEFA President Lennart Johansson said in Stockholm at the UEFA congress.

Blazer supports Blatter's re-election bid against African soccer confederation boss Issa Hayatou and claims FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen solicited support for Hayatou from CONCACAF.

Zen-Ruffinen has denied the allegation and has threatened to sue CONCACAF officials.

The election is set for May 29 in Seoul, South Korea, two days before the World Cup finals kick off. Johansson and Chung support Hayatou.

Will, who has yet to respond to Blazer's letter, said he planned to continue his inquiries despite the delay.

 

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