Corrupt former FIFA official Chuck Blazer dies at 72

New York - Former top football official Chuck Blazer, whose evidence to US investigators helped trigger the FIFA corruption scandal, has died, his lawyer told the New York Times on Wednesday.

Blazer, who himself had been banned from all football activities for life in 2015, had been battling cancer up to his death. He was 72.

"His misconduct, for which he accepted full responsibility, should not obscure Chuck's positive impact on international soccer," his lawyer was quoted by the New York Times as saying.

The bearded, hulking football official was seen as a pivotal figure in the corruption scandal which convulsed FIFA in 2015 and ultimately led to the downfall of former supremo Sepp Blatter.