Blazer: Game will emerge better from crisis
Reuters - Monday 06 June 2011, 01:18
DALLAS - CONCACAF general secretary Chuck
Blazer, whose report to FIFA led to the suspension of two
vice-presidents of football's world governing body, believes the
game will emerge better from the current crisis.
Blazer, speaking to reporters at half-time in the opening
game of CONCACAF's Gold Cup at Cowboy Stadium, admitted fans
were confused by the political battle in his organisation, which
has seen president Jack Warner and his interim replacement Lisle
Austin both suspended.
At the same time, Blazer, who is also a member of FIFA's Executive Committee, said his own actions in detailing the
allegations of bribery showed the organisations were trying to
get things in order.
"I think what preceded all of this is something that says we
believe in all the right things," he said.
"I think they can have confidence in the future because this
is a major effort to do things in the right way and if we
accomplish that by the end of this entire process, we will have
done a lot of good and for the right reasons.
"We are working hard at doing the right things," he added,
while declining to answer questions about the details of recent
cases or the current FIFA investigation into Warner.
The American said he understood that supporters of the game
in the CONCACAF region would, however, be somewhat baffled by
recent events.
"It's regrettable that from a political point of view that
there is some confusion but that will be resolved," he said.
"I know that FIFA and ourselves want to have the situation
to be resolved and resolved for the better. Everything is in
good hands and you can see things are normal at the stadium, my
feelings are very positive for this tournament."
Blazer said that despite the turmoil in CONCACAF, which
included an attempt by Austin to have him removed, the Gold Cup,
the 12-nation tournament held at 13 venues in the United States
this month, was going ahead without any hitches.
"I can assure that things are normal, that it is business as
usual. This is very much the Cup that you have seen before and
the Cup you will see in the future and everything is being done
by the direction of the executive committee and I am in place as
the general secretary," he said.