Indian American Sunil Gulati, who is currently serving a record third term as president of the US Soccer Federation, could be in the race to replace Sepp Blatter as the new Fifa chief.
Various US media outlets said Allahabad-born Gulati, 55, who has played a key role in the development of soccer in the United States in the past few decades, could be a potentially strong contender to replace Blatter, should the US have an interest in the position of Fifa chief.
Blatter was re-elected recently resigned after a corruption scandal implicated some top Fifa officials. In a statement, Gulati welcomed the resignation of Blatter as president of Fifa, which has been rocked by a major corruption scandal, resulting in arrest of more than 10 top football officials both in the US and Zurich.
"I commend him for making a decision that puts Fifa and the sport we love above all other interests. This is the first of many steps towards real and meaningful reform within Fifa. Today is an occasion for optimism and belief for everyone who shares a passion for our game," Gulati said in a statement.
In the elections for Fifa president, Gulati had backed Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein. Gulati and US have been opposed to Blatter. Detroit Free Press Journal said, Gulati is in a strong position to gain support within the CONCACAF confederation that governs soccer in America and the Caribbean.
A native of Allahabad, Gulati has played a role in the development of US Soccer since the early 1980s and has been intimately involved in the rise of the US team to prominence. He served as US Soccer's executive vice president from 2000 to 2006 before stepping into his role as president.
Fifa scandal: one admits to taking bribe
The Fifa corruption scandal escalated as one suspect talked about World Cup bribes and another promised to reveal an “avalanche” of secrets, including about Sepp Blatter. The storm went around the globe with South African police opening an investigation into claims that money was paid to secure the 2010 World Cup.
The Australian police are looking into their country's bid for the 2022 World Cup, while in Venezuela investigators raided the country's football headquarters looking for evidence against a Fifa official held in the scandal. Following the shock resignation of Blatter, focus has shifted to the US investigation which led to seven Fifa officials being arrested last week in Zurich. Evidence given by ailing whistleblower Chuck Blazer to US investigators told of attempts to buy the 1998 and 2010 World Cups hosted by France and South Africa respectively.
Now battling cancer in hospital, the disgraced former North American football supremo said in testimony released by prosecutors that Fifa executives conspired to accept bribes during bidding for the 1998 and 2010 events.
Blazer has admitted to charges related to his leadership of the North and Central American body CONCACAF and membership of Fifa's executive committee.
In a plea deal with US prosecutors, the 70-year-old agreed to record conversations with other Fifa officials. None of the other suspects are named. “Among other things, I agreed with other persons in or around 1992 to facilitate the acceptance of a bribe in conjunction with the selection of the host nation for the 1998 World Cup,” Blazer said in his plea. Blazer went on to admit that he and “others on the Fifa executive committee” agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa to host the World Cup in 2010.
South African officials have angrily denied allegations by US investigators that they paid $10 million in bribes in 2008 to secure the rights.
