ZURICH: FIFA executive committee member Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay resigned on Tuesday, citing health reasons, days before rulings are expected to be announced in a World Cup kickbacks investigation.
FIFA said the 84-year-old Leoz confirmed his departure by letter, and would also step down as president of CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation “FIFA has taken note of the formal resignation of Nicolas Leoz ... for health and personal reasons,” football’s world governing body said in a statement.
Leoz, who has undergone several rounds of heart surgery, has been a member of FIFA’s board since 1998. He has been CONMEBOL president since 1986.
The Paraguayan lawyer leaves FIFA in the same week that its ethics judge is expected to announce decisions stemming from an investigation into a longstanding financial scandal.
Leoz was identified during a Swiss criminal trial in 2008 for receiving payments from FIFA’s former marketing partner ISL. The agency collapsed into bankruptcy in 2001 with debts of around $ 300 million. The resulting prosecution of agency executives revealed the widespread practice of buying influence from sports officials.
Five years ago, Leoz was named in court papers for receiving $130,000 from ISL. British broadcaster BBC later reported that Leoz took payments totaling $ 730,000.
Nicolas Leoz leaves FIFA executive committee
