Chuck Blazer Accuses FIFA Officials of Accepting Bribes During 1998 and 2010 World Cup Bids

US prosecutors have detailed evidence of corruption at the highest levels of FIFA, tainting the award of hosting rights to the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, as police investigations spread Thursday to Australia.

Testimony from disgraced former North American football supremo Chuck Blazer said that FIFA executives conspired to accept bribes during the bidding for the 1998 and 2010 cups, hosted by France and South Africa. (Also read: Sepp Blatter gets standing ovation at FIFA headquarters)

Blazer's testimony, shown in unsealed court documents, is a key plank in the US investigation against FIFA, which federal prosecutors are pursuing as a "Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization." (Former FIFA official alleges link between FIFA and Trinidad general elections)

The revelation comes after the sensational resignation of veteran FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, who received a standing ovation during an emotional appearance in front of his staff on Wednesday.

Blazer -- who is presently out on bail and being treated for rectal cancer -- has admitted to a raft of charges related to his leadership of the North and Central American soccer body CONCACAF and membership of FIFA's executive committee. Related: (Russia continues World Cup preparations | So does Qatar)

In a plea deal with US prosecutors, the 70-year-old agreed to wear a microphone and record conversations with fellow FIFA executives. (Also read: White House wants FIFA to clean its image)

In the papers released, the other FIFA members identified as co-conspirators are not 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.

France eventually beat Morocco in the bidding to stage that tournament. Another court document, detailing the charges, says that Blazer was present when a co-conspirator accepted a bribe in Morocco.

Blazer goes 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 to secure the rights.

Central to the claims about South Africa is former FIFA vice-president and former head of CONCACAF Jack Warner, who was placed on Interpol's most wanted list on Wednesday along with five other people.

The $10 million transfer went from the South African authorities to Warner, and was made through FIFA, although football's governing body says it was just the intermediary in the transaction.

Reports say US investigators believe FIFA's combative secretary-general Jerome Valcke authorized the transfer and the money was intended as a bribe.

But Valcke, who was effectively Blatter's right-hand man, insists that he had nothing to do with it.