Blazer refuses to discuss bribery allegations

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP):

CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer yesterday refused to discuss allegations that he made against two FIFA executive committee members, accusing them of bribery.

Blazer instead welcomed fans and the media to the beginning of the Gold Cup during half-time of the opening match of the 2011 event between Costa Rica and Cuba.

"I won't be addressing any of the jurisprudence issues," Blazer said.

Blazer has accused FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and fellow executive-committee member Mohamed bin Hammam of bribery in connection with last Wednesday's election.

Bin Hammam had been the lone challenger to Sepp Blatter, who was elected unopposed to a fourth term as president after Warner and bin Hammam were suspended pending a full investigation.

Blazer accused bin Hammam and Warner of offering Caribbean soccer leaders $40,000 each in exchange for votes in the presidential election.

On Saturday, CONCACAF suspended acting president Lisle Austin, who tried to remove Blazer as secretary general in retaliation for his whistleblowing.

While the details of Austin's suspension have not been disclosed, Blazer said that "I won't comment on the politics, but the document he (Austin) received is detailed."

Blazer avoided direct answers about the events of the past week, though he did say that he is confident FIFA is making a major effort to do the right thing.

"I expect the image they (fans) get is that people are of different opinions," Blazer said. "We are working hard to do the right thing. Fans are not here to watch the politics, they are to watch the football on the field."