Blazer adamant, refuses to accept dismissal from CONCACAF and cut ties with law firm

Fired CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer has refused to accept his dismissal and to cut ties with his American lawyers looking into bribery allegations against top footbal administrators, including FIFA Vice President Jack Warner.

Barbadian Lisle Austin, who was appointed interim president of the regional governing body Monday following the provisional suspension of CONCACAF President Jack Warner, immediately ordered Blazer to stop working with the US firm, Collins and Collins, who compiled evidence against Warner.

The next day Austin fired Blazer for breach of the organisation's rules. Austin listed four reasons for firing Blazer:

• Blazer “insulted and defamed” the Caribbean nations of CONCACAF
• He continues to employ the American law firm aiding his investigations
• He failed to invite Austin to the CONCACAF caucus before Wednesday’s FIFA congress
• He appointed unelected CONCACAF members as delegates to the Fifa Congress, instead of eligible members, including Austin.

Blazer, who is also a FIFA executive committee member, told the International media Wednesday he has no intention of ending the relationship with the Chicago-based firm.

Blazer’s report to FIFA’s Ethics Committee included allegations of bribery against Warner and Asian soccer chief Mohammed Bin Hammam of Qatar.

That was the file that the committee used to suspend both men. When Austin took office Monday he gave Blazer 48 hours to explain by what authority he appointed Collins and Collins to conduct investigations into the members of CONCACAF.

Blazer is insisting that he has the legal right to work with the firm. “It clearly falls under my jurisdiction as general secretary of CONCACAF,” said Blazer.

But that is where the real contention lies. Austin has said Blazer is no longer employed by CONCACAF and does not have any authority to act on its behalf; Blazer has refused to accept that.

Austin is firm in his position that Blazer has been fired by the federation, despite a statement on its official Web site which said he had no authority to dismiss the American.

It stated, “Chuck Blazer continues as CONCACAF general secretary and with the full authority of his office. The Confederation continues its normal operations, including the Gold Cup commencing on June 5 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.”

Austin responded claiming he had legal advice before moving against Blazer. The acting CONCACAF president also questioned the legality of a meeting of four members of the CONCACAF executive committee which issued the statement.

“The presence of four executive committee members in the hotel room of Blazer does not constitute an executive committee meeting,” Austin said, noting that such a meeting is illegal unless it is attended by the president.

Austin said the statement on the Web site was tantamount to trespassing since the unauthorised use of CONCACAF’s services and equipment by non-staff is unlawful.

However he did not shut down the site. “In my capacity as acting president, I will not order the immediate shutdown of all on-line facilities of the confederation due to the integral role it plays in our day to day operations,” he said.