Travels with Chuck Blazer and his Friends...

Super Bowl Sunday...

2012-02-05T22:20:00.002-05:00

Curtis Martin, newly elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, Chuck Blazer and Curtis' brother Jason in the NFL Hall of Fame Suite at the Super Bowl in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Pre-game coin toss with introduction of newly elected Hall of Famers. Curtis got the biggest around of applause from the audience at the game.

Don Shula watching the Halftime Show from the Hall of Fame suite as Madonna performs onstage in a spectacular performance after which Shep Messing and Curtis take time out to pose for a pix.

Wrapping up the day, Curtis gave it all a big Thumbs Up. Congratulations Curtis for a spectacular career and the worthy recognition of your accomplishments.

FIFA Conference on Women's Football Development...

2012-01-30T23:28:00.000-05:00

Women's Olympic Qualifying - Vancouver 2012

2012-01-29T21:59:00.000-05:00

FIFA Club World Cup 2011 Final Ceremony...

2011-12-18T21:28:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween, Ho, Ho, Ho...

2011-10-31T21:34:00.000-04:00

Statement from Petrus Damaseb

2011-10-20T10:40:00.000-04:00

Reacting to allegations from Jack A. Warner against him, Petrus Damaseb has issued the following statement :

"The only thing I remember is an invitation to dinner at the palatial residence of Mr Bin Hammam while I was attending a FIFA Congress in Qatar in 2003, together with other FA presidents, and receiving a watch from Bin Hammam (a customary gift in football) which I still have and treasure and which I accepted to be a gift to me as Namibian FA president and a token and expression of his hospitality and friendship. As NFA president I received many watches as gifts either from host Associations or their functionaries or from FIFA. I was not the president of the NFA when Blatter was first elected in 1998 and had never met Blatter, Warner and Bin Hammam while they were on a ‘worldwide crusade’ (as Warner puts it) for Blatter’s election or re-election as the case may be. It is a pity that Warner has chosen to engage in a smear campaign founded on falsehoods and to cast aspersions on my character for doing my job as a volunteer to World football."

PT Damaseb
Deputy Chairman
FIFA ETHICS COMMITTEE
19 October 2011

Happy Birthday Shep...

2011-10-09T09:01:00.001-04:00

Shep Messing (born October 9, 1949 in The Bronx, New York) is a former American soccer goalkeeper and current broadcaster. He played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics.He is a really good guy; he knows the sport and is a great friend. Enjoy this birthday. You and this day are both special.

Welcome Miss Universe to New York...

2011-09-30T22:27:00.000-04:00

50th High School Reunion...

2011-09-18T09:38:00.006-04:00

It seemed quite impossible, but here it was, my 50th High School Reunion. Last night at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, the Class of 61 joined together in a celebration of a half century of memories and accomplishment. For me, it was my first class reunion. While I have had very little contact with my fellow high school graduates, it was a refreshing opportunity to relive memories and hear the stories of the roads people have taken to the present. It was a really nice evening and an extraordinary experience.

A very cool young lady...

2011-09-07T10:13:00.000-04:00

Irene in New York... All rain. No pain!

2011-08-29T03:46:00.002-04:00

Since my Birthday...

2011-08-20T14:58:00.005-04:00

Since my birthday in April, I have only made posts on my blog a couple of times. Once to show a video interview of me on the way into FIFA for the meeting of the Executive Committee in May following the initial suspensions of the Warner/Bin Hammam case brought by me to the Ethics Committee; and the other set of videos coming from the CONCACAF website dealing with the magic of this year's Gold Cup competition.

I considered both of those very important and broke my self imposed silence on the blog to see that I memorialized those two watershed events.

Once the issue of the Elections and the Trinidad meeting became news, my blog became the source of pictures of a lifestyle that many bloggers found objectionable. I was proud to know and happy to share those moments with you the readers of this blog. Instead, others used them to poke fun at me and my family and the pictures gave them a wealth of material to draw whatever fanciful conclusions they wished to make about many of the people found on these pages.

As a consequence, at least during the period from when the cases were initiated on May 29th, I chose to avoid doing my normal writing and posting of pictures to allow the legal process the greatest latitude of working independently of any influence or noise from me. I had done my part. The Ethics Code required me in Article 14.1 as follows: Ofﬁcials shall report any evidence of violations of conduct to the FIFA Secretary General, who shall report it to the competent body.

The cases brought on May 29th are closed. No longer am I inhibited by those open issues. There are new issues on the table daily and new things that I am learning. CONCACAF has been inhibited in expressing its position due to the action taken in the Bahamas Court by Lisle Austin and therefore has not been able to respond to many of the issues which are being faced by the organization.

I expect, in my role as a member of FIFA's Executive Committee, I will be able to continue to express myself on important topics which face our region and plan to do so over the coming days and weeks. I look forward to filling the vacuum with real information.

Gold Cup Final Highlights...

2011-06-28T23:37:00.000-04:00

A Taste of Gold Cup 2011...

2011-06-28T20:33:00.000-04:00

Celebrating Gold Cup 2011...

2011-06-25T23:42:00.001-04:00

May 31st... prior to Exco Meeting in Zurich

2011-05-31T02:38:00.000-04:00

Birthday Celebration at the Office...

2011-04-26T16:11:00.001-04:00

Thanks for all the good wishes received by email, phone, fax and facebook.

First MLS team in the Champions League Finals...

2011-04-20T00:11:00.001-04:00

Marci's birthday at Red Bull Arena...

2011-04-17T07:35:00.003-04:00

Mary Lynn decorated the room at Red Bull Arena for a kids birthday. Balloons, streamers, birthday signs, red table clothes and party cups and napkins. Brought in special cup cakes and a few presents. Everyone was certain it was for one of the little guys running around in the suite. Nope!!!

It was their Mom's birthday. Marci was 43. It is important to remember that you are never too old for a kid's birthday party.

As a special treat, Luke Rodgers nailed two into the back of the net in the first fifteen minutes and then pressed the rest of the game until he fed a perfect ball to Thierry Henry who ended his scoring drought with a well taken header to round out a 3-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Good friend and wonderful man...

2011-03-08T17:56:00.000-05:00

Blazer still backing FIFA despite his criticism...

2011-03-07T21:51:00.003-05:00

Reuters - 3/7/11

FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer criticised his colleagues on world soocer's governing body last week but still believes its decision-making process is sound and reflects a worldwide consensus.

The portly 65-year-old American with the Santa Claus beard, a member of the powerful exco for the last 15 years, joined FIFA's critics after his colleagues refused to give his CONCACAF confederation an extra place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Nevertheless, he told Reuters in an interview that while no major organisation can please everyone all the time, FIFA's "representative democracy" cannot be bettered.

Blazer was not slow to complain when he thought the exco got last week's decision wrong and quickly informed followers on his Twitter account of his chagrin at the outcome.

He was upset that the North and Central American and Caribbean countries will only have three finalists -- and possibly a fourth through the playoffs.

While CONCACAF are stuck with the same 3.5 places they had for last year's World Cup in South Africa, there will possibly be six South American countries at Brazil 2014, out of the 10 vying for places in the qualifiers, and five from Africa.

Last week Blazer described the exco decision not to change the allocation of slots "completely ludicrous," adding a criticism people often level at FIFA: "Everyone was protecting their own interests rather than doing what was right".

But he defended the world governing body to Reuters when he said: "In any group where you have different points of view, you will always have dissatisfaction with decisions that are taken.

"FIFA has to deal with the passions and interests of people... When it comes to football, your feeling is always based on passion. That's a great thing, but it also happens to make us the target of criticism when it comes down to it.

"Even my own criticism last week regarding CONCACAF's number of teams in the 2014 World Cup came from passion. But we are a representative democracy.

"There are 24 people from all around the world on the FIFA exco and we represent a lot of different points of view. But, as far as I am concerned, you cannot get better than a representative democracy."

IFAB STRUCTURE

Blazer was talking after the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for formulating the laws of the game.

Formed in 1886, for many years it was a little known offshoot comprising the British associations and FIFA that quietly tinkered around with the laws.

It now attracts lots of media attention especially when debating issues like goal-line technology or five-man refereeing systems. Blazer, naturally, has an interesting view of IFAB.

"It is not an anachronism, but the problem with IFAB from my perspective is that there are times when all eight members are from Europe -- we had that a couple of years ago.

"There are four statutory members from the British associations. We had the president and the general secretary of FIFA, the president of UEFA and the president of the referees' committee and that gave us all eight from Europe.

"That was not very good for the rest of the world.

"For example, IFAB this year has sanctioned the further testing of the five-man referee system for Euro 2012 with the additional assistant referees behind the goal but it's a different environment in Europe than it is elsewhere.

"How do we train extra referees? How do we recruit them in the rest of the world?

"I think, in some ways, IFAB is too narrow a group but, as long as they don't assume any responsibility for the way the game is played but are responsible as the custodians of the laws of the game, then it's not the worst thing in the world."

Blazer, though, is pleased the experiment with goal-line technology is continuing for another year.

"I know the debate was closed and then reopened but we need to do whatever we can to make the World Cup and the major events the best we can.

"As we live in a technological world, the more time you give for technology to prove itself, the more opportunities there are for the right answer to come along, so I am not concerned about the fact there is another year of experiments.

"If we can find something to make the game better, so be it."

125th Annual IFAB Meeting in Wales...

2011-03-05T19:28:00.002-05:00

Blazer blasts World Cup decision...

2011-03-04T12:50:00.000-05:00

Reprinted from ESPNSoccernet

FIFA's decision to allow South America a possible six slots at the 2014 World Cup has been blasted as "completely ludicrous'' by Chuck Blazer, the FIFA executive committee member from the USA and secretary general of CONCACAF.

FIFA will retain the same number of World Cup places for each confederation for the 2014 tournament but Brazil will take the hosts' spot given to South Africa for 2010.

South America has just 10 countries in its confederation CONMEBOL and already had four definite places without the hosts' spot, and the chance of another via a play-off.

Blazer also questioned why Africa should have five spots compared to CONCACAF's 3.5 given their relatively poor showing in the World Cup.

Blazer said: "It is completely ludicrous. I'm a great supporter of South American football but for them to have a possible six countries out of 10 is absurd. People say the hosts have always qualified as an extra but that is not true. The last two times we hosted the World Cup, in Mexico in 1986 and USA in 1994, we didn't get an extra spot - we only had two. Why should South America get an extra one? Everyone is protecting their own interests rather than doing what's right.''

CONCACAF had argued that with 40 member nations, one fifth of FIFA's total, they should have four automatic slots rather three with one possible via a play-off.

Blazer also pointed out that the success of Mexico and the USA in qualifying from the group stage of the 2010 finals contrasted with Africa, where Ghana was the only country from that continent to advance.

He added: "We had a 67% success rate, Africa had a 16% success. If Africa can go from two places to five in the last 14 years, why can we not go from two to four. This decision also means we will have to completely re-do our whole qualifying system.''

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein visits New York...

2011-02-25T13:51:00.002-05:00

I had the pleasure of being the host for the visit to CONCACAF of FIFA's new Vice President Elect from Asia. Prince Ali is also the President of the Jordanian Football Federation. I really enjoyed his visit. He is an intelligent young man dedicated to improving football in his region. I am happy to support him in those goals and objectives.

Doing Disney...

2011-02-20T16:42:00.000-05:00

It has been more than 30 years since I cruised the parks of Disney World in Orlando. What my visit on Sunday proved is you never get too old for Disney to be fun.

Musically speaking...

2011-02-17T12:14:00.002-05:00

Rudy Perez and his wife Betsy enjoy a breakfast meeting with Chuck Blazer to talk about musical plans for the many CONCACAF projects that are in the works.

(From Wikipedia: Rudy Perez is a Cuban American composer, producer and Sound engineer, whose songs have been very successful. He is considered one of the most outstanding creators in the field of international pop music. His facility to write and produce hits makes him one of the top most sought after producer /songwriters in the music industry. To have a Rudy Perez song in your repertoire usually guarantees immediate success. Numerous top ten hits that his compositions have achieved during the last 20 years and any of them have remained in the top 1 for many consecutive weeks (between 9 and 11 weeks). He has composed over 600 songs written and produced hits for international artists such as Julio Iglesias, Raul di Blasio, Jaci Velasquez, Christian Castro, Christina Aguilera, Luis Fonsi, Marc Anthony, Jennifer López, Luis Miguel and Jose Feliciano among others.[1] His songs have been very successful as he won the Hot Latin Songs, being also the first composer and producer Hispanic win. He was chosen as producer of the year for four consecutive years. Also, the success of the songs he has composed and produced what has earned 30 gold records and 50 platinum and his work has been nominated also for 19 Latin Grammy,of which he got 5. He has been voted the most important Latin composer. He also won the title of Producer of the Decade in 2010, awarded by Billboard the most successful producer who had over ten years in the public's preference lists. He was elected the first president of the Florida branch (now a full chapter) of NARAS, and was instrumental in the establishment of the first Latin Grammy Awards, which premiered in 2000.)

Officials and Secretariat following UNCAF Congress in Panama...

2011-01-17T14:31:00.000-05:00

Sunday night at the Stadium... Copa Centroamericana

2011-01-16T20:35:00.000-05:00

CONCACAF Executive Committee in Panama...

2011-01-16T14:11:00.001-05:00

I receive a service recognition award from new Panama directors...

2011-01-15T21:23:00.000-05:00

Haiti U17 Awarded FIFA Fair Play Award...

2011-01-11T09:19:00.003-05:00

I am very proud that FIFA accepted our nomination of the Haitian U17 Women's Team this year's FIFA Fair Play Award. The story was best told by ESPN E60 report aired on their network. Watch it below to gain an appreciation of the heart and courage of these young women. Congratulations to all of you.

Haiti’s standard bearers show the way
(FIFA.com) Monday 10 January 2011

This year’s FIFA Fair Play award went to Haiti’s U-17 women’s national team, who carried on bravely despite the worst kind of suffering, loss and pain following the devastating earthquake of January 2010.

Young members of the national team played on while the world crumbled around them. When the massive 7.0 earthquake of January 2010 ravaged the Caribbean nation, the team were training at the national stadium in the capital of Port au Prince, just 15 miles from the epicentre. The scenes surrounding the training session were nothing short of apocalyptic, with team members screaming out and crying in the noise and devastation of one of the largest earthquakes in the region’s turbulent and troubled history.

While the fear-stricken players were all sparred, their coach Jean-Yves Labaze - described as “like a father” to most of the team - was pinned down and killed by falling rubble while attending meetings in the nearby FA headquarters.

Losing not only a father figure in Labaze, nearly all members of the team lost actual family members and friends in the quake. Goalkeeper Alexandra Coby suffered the agony of losing her entire immediate family in the chaos that ensued. No one would have faulted them for pulling out of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup which were scheduled for Costa Rica a little over two months after the earthquake. But the girls summoned their strength and carried on, training in the Dominican Republic and Panama - who both welcomed the team to their facilities with open arms - while the national stadium in Port au Prince was used as a makeshift tent city.

“If there was no football, we would be nothing,” captain Hayana Jean Francois said, stunned by the after-effects of the earthquake that killed more than 230,000 of her fellow Haitians and left nearly one million homeless. Desperate to reach the first women’s world finals for Haiti, the girls came up short, losing 9-0 to the USA and 2-0 to hosts Costa Rica.

For their courage and strength, the Haitian girls were congratulated as heroes, for theirs was a triumph that transcended any football pitch. They are all worthy winners of the 2010 FIFA Fair Play award. I would like to thank FIFA for this prize. I want to share it with all the youngsters, especially the ones who are suffering. Haiti will get better." said Hayana Jean Francois after picking up the award on her team's behalf.

RAP Meeting in New York...

2011-01-04T22:05:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year...

2010-12-31T12:14:00.001-05:00

Merry Tropical Christmas...

2010-12-25T03:48:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays...

2010-12-24T06:06:00.001-05:00

Inter Milan... the Champion!!!

2010-12-18T23:59:00.001-05:00

An Awarding Experience...

2010-12-18T23:54:00.005-05:00

Blazer Explains World Cup Vote...

2010-12-11T05:08:00.003-05:00

By Martyn Ziegler, Chief Reporter, Press Association Sport

FIFA's American member Chuck Blazer has said he voted for Russia over England for the 2018 World Cup because it will open up new markets for football.

Blazer said England would have staged a "great World Cup" but that it would have contributed little to the game's development globally. He also insisted that he believes the 2018 decision had been a fair vote.

He said: "I went to visit Russia and England and Holland/Belgium to look at their bids and they all behaved perfectly correctly. Nothing has changed since then."

His final decision came down to the legacy of the World Cup - and he was influenced by the tournament's success in South Africa earlier this year.

"I voted for Russia," Blazer told Soccer America. "England clearly had a great bid. But in the end, I look at England and say, 'What more would we have when we're finished other than what I am certain would have been a great World Cup?'

"I believe that when we're finished in Russia, we'll have accomplished a lot of different things. We can open up a market that is important from a world perspective.

"Everyone came away saying, 'Wow, what a great World Cup in South Africa.'

"It was a hard process to get there, but nonetheless the event was very, very successful from a TV, marketing, worldwide perspective.

"And having done it there, it gave reason for everyone in the world to say, 'We can do it here.' No longer was it reserved for only for the big countries in Europe and the Americas."

He added: "If you look you at the votes - one for Australia, two for England, three for the USA in the first round, a total of six votes out of a potential of 44 votes - there didn't seem much of a taste for these places."

The irony for Blazer was the same argument that did for England may have lost the USA's bid for 2022 to Qatar - but he continues to insist the Middle Eastern state will struggle to deal with the problem of 50 degree C temperatures in June and July.

"I still feel heat is an obstacle that they won't overcome in the time frame in which we hope it will," he added.

"Who knows? By then, we may be going around with air-conditioned suits."

Blazer acknowledged that the sums spent by Qatar on their bid - running into hundreds of millions of pounds - raised questions about the process.

"Qatar took it all to another level," he said. "The question really comes down to, how do you create a level playing field for bidders going forward."

Blazer believes Qatar's bid president Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani was able to announce their victory on Al-Jazeera television half-an-hour before FIFA president Sepp Blatter opened the envelope because they were so sure of their votes - they won by 14 to 8 in the final round.

"This was a very well-managed campaign," Blazer said.

My commentary on the World Cup decisions...

2010-12-10T03:49:00.006-05:00

This story is reprinted from Soccer America and written by Paul Kennedy who interviewed me by phone yesterday.

Chuck Blazer on the U.S. loss
by Paul Kennedy, December 10th, 2010 2:16AM

[WORLD CUP 2022] A week after the vote by the FIFA executive committee to give the 2022 World Cup to Qatar over the United States and three other bidders, Chuck Blazer, the lone American on the executive committee that selected the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, finds himself in the Gulf. Blazer is the chairman of the FIFA organizing committee for the 2010 Club World Cup being played in Abu Dhabi. He spoke at length with Soccer America about what we can learn from the outcome ...

"It was disappointing because I know how hard people had worked, including myself, to bring home a result," Blazer says. "And when you realize in the end it didn't have much of a chance because it had little to do with what we were saying and more on how things are in the world, it's kind of a hard thing to reconcile."

Blazer, a member of the FIFA executive committee since 1996 and general secretary of New York-based Concacaf, says the turning point in both the 2018 and 2022 races was not anything any of the bidders did but what happened in South Africa this summer.

"In the simplest form," he says, "we were very successful in South Africa. It was successful in a place where even though we went there we weren't that certain we'd be successful. The event went very well. The stadiums were finished in the end. All the things that needed to get done finally got done. It was a hard process to get there, but nonetheless the event was very, very successful from a TV, marketing, worldwide perspective. Everyone came away from it saying, 'Wow, what a great World Cup in South Africa.' And having done it there, it gave reason for everyone in the world to say, 'We can do it here.' No longer was it reserved for only for the big countries in Europe and the Americas."

It changed the dynamics of both races, the favorites for which a year ago would have been the USA and England.

"Look, I voted for Russia," says Blazer, whose travel blog features a story on his summer meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last summer as well as photos of Putin's vacation. "England clearly had a great bid. But in the end, I look at England and say, 'What more would we have when we're finished than what I am certain would have been a great World Cup?' I believe that when we're finished in Russia, we'll have accomplished a lot of different things."

Blazer says the World Cup is an opportunity for massive investment in sports facilities, infrastructure, hotels and the like, but at least just an important, an opportunity to broaden relations -- political, social and cultural -- between Russia and the West.

"We can open up a market that is important from a world perspective," he says.

Qatar -- the first World Cup in the Middle East, the first World Cup hosted by a Muslim country -- offers many of the same opportunities.

Blazer doesn't want to take anything away from the Qatar victory. "They ran a very, very good campaign," he says. "Eleven [executive committee members] voted for them in the first round." But he feels there were too many obstacles with Qatar despite the tremendous amount of investment they were making.

"I still feel heat is an obstacle that they won't overcome in the time frame in which we hope it will," he says.

With average temperatures of 107 degrees in the summer, Qatar 2022 has proposed air-conditioning stadiums and other World Cup-related facilities, but it produced one of the memorable lines of the bid campaign, Blazer's remark to the Wall Street Journal in mid-November: "You can air-condition a stadium, but I don't see how you can air-condition an entire country."

(Since the Dec. 2 announcement, discussion of moving the 2022 World Cup from the summer to the winter has picked up steam. On Thursday, Peter Velappan, the former general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation said air conditioners were "not a solution" and posed the possibility of a European boycott. "Qatar is a nice country," Velappan said, "but there is no way football can be played in June and July there. No player will ever want to play in these conditions.")

Blazer doesn't know the answer. "Who knows? By then, we may be going around with air-conditioned suits."

The virtue of a U.S. World Cup bid was that it offered huge revenues that could essentially be guaranteed for FIFA, whose other soccer tournaments, grants to confederations and member associations and development programs are all subsidized by the World Cup. After South Africa, Brazil 2014 offers more uncertainty.

"It would have been nice," Blazer says, "to find solutions, whether it was England or the U.S. in that mix, where it would not have an issue with the incomes."

But it wasn't meant to be.

"If you look you at the votes -- one for Australia, two for England, three for the USA in the first round, a total of six votes out of a potential of 44 votes -- there didn't seem much of a taste for these places," says Blazer.

One factor that worked against the United States, whose bid was funded by U.S. Soccer and sponsors, was the extremes to which other bidders -- namely, the two winners -- generated the backing of their governments.

"There is no way that Russia could have conceived of bidding for the World Cup without the level of absolute commitment of the government, which they showed with a very forthright plan that had the support from the top levels of the government," says Blazer. "Certainly, Qatar took it all to another level. The question really comes down to, how do you create a level playing field for bidders going forward."

World Cup bidding campaigns were modest contests until the mid-1990s when South Korea mounted a remarkable campaign -- backed by the giants of Korean industry -- to overtake rival Japan and force a compromise that resulted in the first and only co-hosted World Cup, in 2002. But there has never been a campaign like the one of Qatar, the first one in which sovereign wealth was used -- to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

"We've never had this problem up until now," says Blazer.

The other factor that worked against the United States is its standing in the world.

"I think our image has changed in the last decade," Blazer says. "It impacts us as well. Clearly, our image is different, and in dealing with members of the executive committee over the last decade, there has been a change in the nature of how we are perceived."

Blazer credited the USA Bid Committee with making a strong bid in the face of the excesses of the winning Qatari bid. "You have to give a tremendous amount of credit to [U.S. Soccer President and bid chairman] Sunil [Gulati] and his group for doing things the right way."

Still, as he left the meeting room in Zurich where the executive committee voted on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Blazer says he thought a U.S. victory was possible. He says it wasn't until FIFA President Sepp Blatter pulled the name of Russia out of the envelope with the 2018 winner that he figured Qatar had won the 2022 race.

How Qatar 2022 bid president Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani knew to announce the Qatar victory at least a half an hour earlier on Al-Jazeera remains a mystery, the explanation to which Blazer puts down to how Mohamed Bid Hammam, the Qatari member of the executive committee, managed to count his votes.

"This was a very well managed campaign," says Blazer.

And at 14-8, a very comfortable victory.

FCWC Press Conference...

2010-12-07T10:07:00.002-05:00

FCWC Organizing Committee Meeting...

2010-12-07T07:58:00.003-05:00

Elaine...

2010-12-03T18:41:00.001-05:00

Friday, December 3rd, JFK Airport, NYC

As the wheels of our Swiss International Airbus Jet was touching down at JFK from Zurich and the disappointing decision on the World Cup 2022, the spirit of Elaine Kaufman was lifting off for her flight to heaven. There was hardly a celebration that didn't involve her. There was hardly a week that didn't include her. There was hardly a friend who wasn't welcomed by her. There was hardly a night that she didn't anchor my safe harbor. There will hardly be a day when I won't think of her.

My Birthday at Elaine's

At lunch on her birthday at Barney Greengrass with Mary Lynn and Danny Zarem

With Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza

Saturday Holiday Shopping...

2010-11-28T13:28:00.002-05:00

My Blog gets a name change...

2010-11-25T06:20:00.001-05:00

On August 5th, I had the pleasure of visiting with the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, in his private office in the Russian Federation Office Building. It was a very busy day in the nation's capital, with the Prime Minister's itinerary changed, keeping him grounded to his office, due to the rash of forest fires sweeping the Moscow region. That morning I received a call inviting me to come to the House of the Russian Government and have a chat.

Primed and ready for the opportunity, I arrived on time and was brought to a room where I met the very skilled translator who was specialized in simultaneous translation; not with headphones and equipment, but by softly speaking in the complimentary language while each speaker was saying their piece. We chatted informally for a while and then my Exco colleague Sports Minister Mutko joined us, giving us the opportunity to practice and establish a working cadence of translation.

About an hour passed, while the PM had his cabinet in his office to consider how to put out the fires and to reduce the tension and the dense smoke that filled the city. Rain would have helped, but the weatherman brought no relief and the politicians needed to continue to do their best to fight the fires while battling mounting negative public sentiment. Minister Mutko left the room and went to check on when we would be received. While he was gone, I was ushered into a small receiving room with three large comfortable chairs. I calmly waited on the one with my name placed by protocol to make sure I was seated in the right place. All of a sudden, word came to the room that we were to move to another place to actually meet. So, with the translator in tow, we walked down a long corridor and through a room full of cabinet members and key officials. As the large doors to his private inner sanctum swung open, I was greeted by a smiling and very affable leader of the government, Mr. Putin himself.

A firm handshake and a personable smile set the tone for what turned out to be a very special experience. He guided me to sit on a leather couch in the near right corner of the room. At right angles to that couch was another matching one where he took up his position so that we flanked the corner of a large wood bordered coffee table. On my couch, sitting near enough to be part of the conversation was the translator; while on Mr. Putin's was Vitaly Mutko. The conversation began in a normal enough way, each of us thanking the other for making time for the visit. Genial welcomes continued until at one moment, he looked at me with a very serious gaze and said, without cracking a smile, "You know, you look like Karl Marx!"

I guess I could have responded to his observation in any of a dozen unpredictable ways. Instead, I simply winked at him and said, "I know". This brought an immediate response with him lifting his right arm up in the air and thrusting it forward to give me my first High-5 from a Prime Minister. I must admit that it was unique after all we have heard about this famous leader of the Russian Republic with a work history in the KGB. So, who knew what to expect? I can tell you that this began a half hour exchange of wit, charm and effective communications.

Shortly after the High-5, he had some questions about my blog. Yes, this same one you are reading now. He asked how it began. I told him about the World Cup in Germany and the fact that I had many special experiences which I wanted to share with people who didn't have the same opportunities. So, I began Inside the World Cup, which ran until the final whistle in Berlin.

Shortly thereafter, Travels with Chuck Blazer was born. I still had many experiences to share, albeit not accompanied by as much writing as during the World Cup. Instead, more pictures, since recreational writing at times can be very demanding in the face of other obligations. Following discussion on other topics, Mr. Putin rose and walked to a wall behind the table where his cabinet had just met. He slid open two massive doors, revealing a beautiful wooden inlaid map of the whole of Russia, which filled the expanse of the largest wall in the room. As he did this, he talked about a vacation he was about to go on during the waning days of summer. He said that security normally doesn't like him talking about his plans in advance, but he wanted to share with me some of the plans he had in mind. He walked from the western edge of the map where his St. Petersburg home and Moscow were located and walked to the right towards Siberia and great river deltas and continental roadways being connected. He talked of the things he planned to do, but I must admit I thought he was just trying to show me how very large an 11 time zone land mass of Russia is, when walking from the map's western edge to the eastern perimeter.

Before returning to the table, he posed the question, "If I send you pictures from my trip, will you post them in your blog and then what will you do?". I told him yes, the pictures would definitely appear and I would change the name of the blog to "Travels with Chuck Blazer and his Friends". Indeed, what he was telling me was the real preview of his trip. So, I now happily do what I committed to him and share with you the pictures he has been kind enough to send to me. You will note the new title of the blog has now reflected the pictures from my friend. I hope this opens up my forum to allow for other generous contributions of the people I have had the pleasure to meet in my very special role with FIFA.

Thank you Mr. Putin. I hope you enjoyed my retelling of the story of my visit to your office. It was an honor to be there.

Visit by the Japanese Consul General in New York..

2010-11-24T13:00:00.002-05:00

Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya visited the office of CONCACAF in New York to help support the bid of Japan as host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Blazer said that the Japanese bid was an unique document in that it looked into applications of technology that were truly impressive. He said that one of the great advantages of competition in bidding is the opportunity for new ideas and concepts. The Japanese bid had plenty of innovative thinking and Blazer said he was proud to see that his friends in Japan had been so creative. Pictured below, Ambassador Nishimiya and Chuck Blazer pose with the Japan 2022 brochure.

Happy Birthday Jiri...

2010-11-22T23:03:00.002-05:00

FIFA's Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Jiri Dvorak, spent his birthday with us in New York and lent his talents to our Winners Health production.

The holiday season in New York kicks off in store windows...

2010-11-21T21:33:00.004-05:00

Medical Shootout...

2010-11-14T19:50:00.003-05:00

Sunday was spent on the training field at Ramapo College in Mawhaw, New Jersey, where I joined our production crew who were working on a new and important project called CONCACAF Winners Health. They are in the process of shooting a series of 14 medical topics targeted to Coaches, Players and Parents. This plain-talking informative series is being produced in English and Spanish and will be distributed through TV and the internet by CONCACAF in 2011. Watch for it!

Canada Wins Women's Qualifying in Cancun...

2010-11-08T22:20:00.000-05:00

Canadian Women's Team hoist the trophy in Cancun.

Mexican team finishes in a heroic second place and qualifies for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany next summer.

USA defeated Costa Rica 3-0 to manage third place and a playoff for the FWWC with Italy.

I was there with my friends and colleagues, Guillermo Canedo and Jack Warner.

FIFA Meetings with Member Associations...

2010-11-04T18:33:00.001-04:00

Chuck Obi-Wan Kenobi prepares for Halloween...

2010-10-31T12:55:00.003-04:00

FIFA Club World Cup Draw...

2010-10-27T20:00:00.001-04:00

Rafael Marquez meets Ximena Navarrete after the Red Bulls v New England match...

2010-10-21T23:19:00.006-04:00

Dinner after the Concert...

2010-10-20T23:26:00.000-04:00

Chuck Blazer and friends enjoy dinner at Le Cirque with world famous Conductor Valery Gergiev

VALERY GERGIEV
Since he burst onto the international scene just a few years ago, Valery Gergiev has become one of the most sought after conductors in the world. He is currently the Director of the Maryinsky Theater in St. Petersburg , home to the Kirov Opera and Ballet. Under his leadership, the Kirov Opera has become recognized as one of the great opera companies of the present day. He is also Principal Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera. He has recently completed a two-week stint conducting the New York Philharmonic which received much critical acclaim.

Born in Moscow , Valery Gergiev studied conducting at the Leningrad Conservatoire with the noted teacher Ilya Musin. At the age of 23, he won Berlin 's "Herbert von Karajan Competition". He made his Kirov Opera debut in 1978 with War and Peace and later became assistant conductor to Yuri Temirkanov. In 1988 Gergiev was designated artistic director and principal conductor. In 1996, the Russian government appointed him director of the Mariinsky Theatre. He has appeared with all the leading orchestras of the former Soviet Union and for four years was chief conductor of the Armenian State Orchestra.

Gergiev has guest conducted most of the world's major orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw, London's Royal Philharmonic, Rome's Santa Cecilia, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Tokyo's NHK Symphony, and the Berlin Philharmonic.

Now, as one of music’s busiest and most sought-after conductors, he is regularly applauded at the podiums of the major opera houses and orchestras of the world. Maestro Gergiev is the organizer of St. Petersburg ’s annual "White Nights Festival," the "Rotterdam Philharmonic/Gergiev Festival," and is director and founder of the Mikkeli International Festival in Finland , the Peace to the Caucasus Festival, and the Red Sea International Music Festival in Eilat , Israel .

His recordings on CD and video include: The Maid of Pskov , Khovanshchina, Sadko, War and Peace, The Queen of Spades, Iolanta, Ruslan and Lyudmila, The Fiery Angel, Prince Igor, La Forza del Destino, several orchestral albums and recitals, and the complete ballets Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty. His most recent releases include The Gambler, Mazeppa, Kashchei the Immortal, Betrothal in a Monastery and Ivan the Terrible. Among Gergiev’s numerous international honors are Musical America’s "Conductor of the Year" award, as well as Russia ’s Dmitri Shostakovich Award, Golden Mask Award, and "People’s Artist of Russia," the Valery Gergiev is one of the foremost international conductors of our time. As well as being one of the most highly sought after artists by the world’s top orchestras and opera houses, he occupies a unique, pre-eminent position in Russia as both the Music Director of the Kirov Opera and the Kirov Ballet and the overall Intendant of the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, the Kirov Companies’ historic home.

Valery Gergiev was born in Moscow in 1953, but grew up in the Caucasus, the mountainous area at the Southern end of Russia , stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea . He began his musical studies in Ordzhonikidze , the Caucasian capital of Ossetia , and showed early prodigious talent as a pianist before taking up conducting in his teens. He was accepted into the conducting class of Ilya Musin at the Leningrad (now St Petersburg) Conservatory, and whilst still a student won the All Union Conductors Competition in Moscow and the Herbert von Karajan Conductors Competition in Berlin.

In 1977 at the age of just 24 Valery Gergiev was appointed Assistant Conductor to Yuri Temirkanov at the Kirov Opera, where he made his debut conducting Prokofiev’s War and Peace in 1978. Ten years later, in 1988, he became the Kirov ’s Music Director on Yuri Temirkanov’s departure to the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. By then Maestro Gergiev was already attracting attention for some brilliant performances with leading European orchestras.

Valery Gergiev’s multifaceted life is a uniquely dynamic and creative force in music today.

It looks like I am going to be a grandfather again...

2010-10-14T23:41:00.001-04:00

This time it was Venus, our Eclectus Parrot, who presented us with two eggs. She and Apollo are busy being expectant parents. Hatching takes 21 days, so November 4th is the day we will await the new arrivals. Pictures of the proud parents will be posted when they finish taking turns sitting on the eggs.

A report worth watching...

2010-10-10T19:22:00.000-04:00

Now, that's a Cup!!!

2010-10-03T18:45:00.002-04:00

In the Chelsea D&G Suite, I lift the FA Cup with Mary Lynn giving full respect to a great trophy.

Brunch with Jason & Helen in London...

2010-10-03T15:25:00.001-04:00

and the remarkable Mr. Freddie Hughes

Prior to the Sunderland v ManU match on October 2nd...

2010-10-02T17:36:00.001-04:00

Bobby and Jackie Charlton spent a few private moments not far from where they grew up.

After the match, the teams were kind enough to present us with Jerseys. Mary Lynn was totally surprised when getting one with her name on it. Was a wonderful afternoon.

Meeting of the Minds...

2010-10-01T23:17:00.001-04:00

Mary Lynn Blanks and Karren Brady meet over dinner at Scott's in London on our arrival in England

A Day at the Museum...

2010-09-19T19:25:00.002-04:00

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is a very special place. Here are just a few of the many views we experienced today in a short visit to our great museum.

Miss Universe 2010

2010-08-23T22:22:00.000-04:00

The USA and a new Brazil...

2010-08-10T23:52:00.001-04:00

Hall of Fame Inductions...

2010-08-10T17:56:00.000-04:00

With the President of Tatarstan...

2010-08-06T23:13:00.001-04:00

With Russia's Deputy Prime Minister in Moscow...

2010-08-05T16:53:00.000-04:00

In Rotterdam Harbor with the Netherlands...

2010-08-03T18:02:00.002-04:00

Belle Bruges...

2010-08-02T17:23:00.001-04:00

Cape Town meets President Clinton

2010-06-28T17:54:00.000-04:00

Clearly taken before the 0-0 result with Algeria...

2010-06-18T21:17:00.004-04:00

Everyone is still smiling before the game between England and Algeria. With the USA having survived the ordeals of the afternoon, evening in Cape Town had a confident England facing the north Africans. Nothing is easy in this World Cup, but good will and a friendly picture with Prince William was the order of the day in the VVIP lounge.

Cape Town, more pictures...

2010-06-17T19:49:00.002-04:00

Italy vs Paraguay - 1:1 Final...

2010-06-14T22:55:00.001-04:00

The Green Point Stadium is a real beauty. This panoramic view gives some measure to this wonderful facility.

Dr. Dominic Maestracci, President of the Canadian Soccer Association and Dr. Michel D'Hooghe, FIFA's Medical Committee Chairman, have a brief friendly chat at halftime of the match in the VVIP lounge.

Italo Zanzi and George Tarantini wait with anticipation to see whether Italy will tie it up before the match is over.

Cape Town, a View from the Top of Table Mountain...

2010-06-13T18:46:00.002-04:00

USA Viewing Party in Cape Town...

2010-06-12T23:26:00.004-04:00

Shaun Donovan, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was on hand to cheer the USA in gaining a tie with England in their opening match while at a viewing party organized by myself and U.S. Consul General Dr. Alberta Mayberry at the One & Only Resort in Cape Town.

Pictured above with Jerry Inzerillo of the One & Only Resorts, Secretary Donovan receives a CONCACAF medal from me commemorating his presence at the viewing party.

Other VIPs included (right to left) FIFA Vice President Geoffrey Thompson (England), FIFA Venue Coordinator Hugo Salcedo (USA) and FIFA Executive Committee Member Dr. Michel D'Hooghe (Belgium), all intensely wrapped in the tension of the match.

Brazilian Referee Carlos Simon makes the coin toss and Captains Steven Gerrard (England) and Carlos Bocanegra (USA) stand by to begin the game ultimately resulting in a 1-1 tie.

There were plenty of opportunities to yell and shout as both teams put on a great show in their opening match of the World Cup.

Staff and LOC members made good use of the Saturday night invitation to establish better relations with seven more matches still to be played in the Cape Town venue.

CONCACAF Deputy General Secretary Italo Zanzi overlooks the group at the bar during the viewing to see that everyone is happy and comfortable.

U.S. Consul General Mayberry pins me for the World Cup...

2010-06-12T09:43:00.000-04:00

Following the Game...

2010-06-11T23:54:00.003-04:00

I had great company at dinner in Nobu at the One & Only.

Michel Platini was accompanied by Jerome Valcke and his family.

IMG's Jeff Slack is an old friend of Chuck Blazer;

Chris Supino joined by George Tarantini

Dwayne Hampton next to Kerzner's Jerry Inzerillo, Michelle McLean chatting up Michel Platini before dessert at Nobu.

Opening Night...

2010-06-11T20:50:00.004-04:00

Uruguay and France lined up for their National Anthems prior to the kick off of the Opening Match in Cape Town.

Chris Supino, Jerry Inzerillo, Miss Universe 1992 Michelle McLean, Mayor of Cape Town Daniel Pato, Chuck Blazer, Dwayne Hampton and George Tarantini

Chuck Blazer, Michelle McLean, Premier of the West Cape Province Helen Zille. FIFA Vice President Geoffrey Thompson

Cape Town is Ready to Shine,...

2010-06-11T05:37:00.003-04:00

Tonight, the beautiful new Green Point Stadium glistens and is ready to host the match of France vs Uruguay in the night leg of the opening days matches. A beautiful sight in a beautiful setting.

World Cups are Built on the Backs of Volunteers...

2010-06-09T21:24:00.002-04:00

After years of helping to organize FIFA Events, I am eternally grateful for the masses of people who become part of the Local Organizing Committees as Volunteers. Here, days before the opening in Cape Town, I was able to pay tribute to the young men and women here who were maintaining and running the car pool and transportation center. Here are some shots taken with the great volunteers here in Cape Town. Thanks to all of you helping to make this World Cup a great success.

First Night Out in Cape Town...

2010-06-08T20:02:00.001-04:00

CONCACAF Caucus welcomes WC Bidders...

2010-06-08T17:55:00.001-04:00

Pre World Cup Profile by Sports Business Journal

2010-06-07T18:12:00.004-04:00

As the story appeared on the front page of SBJ today...

The full text of the story.

Getting Ready for Cape Town...

2010-06-03T17:30:00.002-04:00

I am all packed and ready to head to Cape Town. This assignment will be something special.

cape town opening from on Vimeo.

Memorial Day in the City...

2010-05-31T15:49:00.004-04:00

We made the rounds this morning. A visit to the Intrepid Museum and then a speed boat ride taking us withing closeup distance to the elegant lady in the Harbor. The Statute of Liberty is always an inspiring site and up close it is even better.

In Central Park with the Grandsons...

2010-05-30T19:30:00.003-04:00

Planes, trains and flying chairs. While Cameron, just under a year of age, spent his time in the security of his stroller; Dylan, Logan and Drew made the rounds of the rides and Christopher, now 21, took his seat with them to make sure they were safe and secure. See the fun they had on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

The Next Apprentice Begins with the Losers Leaving...

2010-05-30T08:56:00.005-04:00

Before the next Apprentice is shot, and so the locals won't know who is getting "Fired" by Donald Trump each week as it happens, all the exit shots are done at once before it all begins. Last night, marked this season's kick off with the departures of each of the contestants one by one, as Trump borrows Miguel from the Tower's residential side, to play doorman as they leave the Commercial side of the famous Trump landmark.

Final Send Off Match - USA v Turkey 2-1...

2010-05-29T19:16:00.002-04:00

Champions League Summit...

2010-05-25T20:10:00.001-04:00

The CONCACAF Champions League Team Summit was held on Tuesday, May 25th at the Intercontinental Hotel in Doral, Florida. This is the 3rd edition of the Summit and was received well by all the participating teams.

100%...

2010-05-10T06:59:00.006-04:00

The Wall Street Journal this morning reports that 100% is the refund amount that French retailer Carrefour is offering to customers who buy a widescreen television through late May if France wins the World Cup in July.

Dedicated to all my favorite Moms...

2010-05-09T08:49:00.005-04:00

From Millan.Net

A Special Dining Experience...

2010-05-08T23:37:00.001-04:00

A day after our Executive Committee meeting, as peace and tranquility returned to New York City, the one remaining member Guillermo Canedo and his wife Adriana, joined us for a special meal at Eleven Madison Park. We had been trying to get a reservation there for weeks, but luckily we managed to swing one for their last seating at 9:45pm. What followed will be remembered for a long time as one of the best culinary experiences of a decade.

It was great to establish a new relationship with a very special American restaurant to enlarge the choices of exceptional places to bring guests when visiting New York.

In with the New; Out with the Old...

2010-05-07T23:06:00.000-04:00

The New Meadowland Stadium. The opening of the stadium to a real event, which tested the rafters as the match between Mexico and Ecuador sold out the new building to its capacity of almost 78,000. As we drove up to the new structure, we could see the disassembly of the old Giants Stadium which was home to us here in New York since the mid '70s. No score tonight, but the building performed up to standard while construction and the parking lots continued as the rush to completion before the American Football season kicks in.

Friday our Board Made Some Decisions...

2010-05-07T20:56:00.000-04:00

Friday morning our Board meeting opened with a presentation by the Russian Bid Committee for the World Cups 2018/2022. Following a short break, 3 hours of discussion and presentation took the Executive Committee through all current and future competitions and an update from recent Committee meetings held in the Miami Beach offices where new direction was provided for many initiatives now in place including the expansion of youth tournaments to 12 finalist and the women's Olympic qualifying to 8 teams. Greater financial assistance will be provided to all hosting associations as FIFA FAP funds are being anticipated to increase this year and into the future.

The great success of the Gold Cup and the Champions League were highlights of the day's reports with special emphasis Pachuca's exciting injury time victory to propel them to the FIFA Club World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi this December.

The Russians are Coming...

2010-05-06T23:57:00.000-04:00

The night prior to the CONCACAF Executive Committee meeting in New York, I had the pleasure of being the guest to dinner by the delegation of Russia's Bidding Committee for the World Cups 2018/2022. Their choice was outstanding, the top shelf restaurant L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the Four Season's Hotel. Simply superb.

A pleasant surprise was the addition to the original delegation, led by Alexei Sorokin, of the newly elected President of the Russian Football Union, Sergey Fursenko (pictured below the following day during the CONCACAF meeting). The former Gasprom director brings a wealth of corporate management experience to the new Russian Federation. He was also the President of Zenit, St. Petersburg.

Pre-Game Dinner...

2010-05-05T23:22:00.000-04:00

One Wednesday, prior to Mexico's exhibition at the New Meadowlands Stadium vs. Ecuador, Mexico's Team Manager Javier Aquirre, who guided the Tri-Color to this year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa, took time out from his busy schedule to have dinner with Chuck Blazer at Campagnola's in New York City.

Another lovely celebration...

2010-04-26T23:40:00.001-04:00

There weren't enough candles to satisfy the years and not exceed the permissible fire code for Birthday Cakes as a delicious end to a lovely dinner with friends at Elaine's topped off my midterm celebration.

New York is the Business Capital of the World...

2010-04-18T23:25:00.000-04:00

Harold Mayne-Nicholls, on behalf of the Federación de Fútbol de Chile, made his way to New York on Sunday, April 18th, to do business on their behalf. I had the pleasure to renew the relationship established during the Women's World Cup in Chile, 2008. Harold has done a great job in Chile and is a solid figure in FIFA where his efforts have benefited his entire continent. We had time for a nice dinner at Bice during his visit.

In his annual visit to New York...

2010-04-05T19:32:00.000-04:00

Michel Platini's April visit was commemorated with a casual photo with Chuck at his office in New York. Blazer said, "I am always happy to see Michel here. Not only do we have a great friendship, but we have always found ways to solve problems. With good will there are good solutions."

Michel, mon ami, we look forward to your return.

Who will be the winner?

2010-03-10T17:47:00.002-05:00

Arm wrestling between England's F.A. Chairman Lord David Triesman and U.S. Soccer's President Sunil Gulati might seem like the gentlemanly way to settle the issue, but all of us know that we will have to wait until June 12 in Rustenburg, South Africa to know who will be victorious in the opening match between these two warriors in FIFA's World Cup South Africa 2010.

Looking on from the back of the table are David Dein and Chuck Blazer as the group had dinner last night at the Oak Room in the Plaza Hotel on Central Park South. The England Bid Committee 2018/2022 made a formal presentation today at CONCACAF's New York offices capped off with a luncheon hosted by the British Consul General Sir Alan Collins.

On both days, the Boardroom came alive with UEFA Champions League matches where Arsenal won 5-0 and ManU likewise had a shutout with a 4 goal margin. Delegation members Dein and Andy Anson may consider the CONCACAF office as the sweet spot to view important games. They are always welcome back but have been cautioned that the result on June 12 could be very different since the magic of the room is a home advantage. We'll have to wait and see.

It hadn't rained in the desert like this since Noah...

2009-12-14T16:29:00.002-05:00