NEW YORK, USA (AFP) — Chuck Blazer, the man who blew the whistle on the corruption scandal that brought down Asian football supremo Mohamed bin Hammam, will step down as CONCACAF general secretary at the end of the year.

Blazer, 66, will leave his role on December 31 but says he intends to stay in football.

“My passion for football has not diminished and now is the time for me to look for new challenges in this marvellous sport,” said Blazer in a statement released by CONCACAF, the North America and Caribbean ruling body.

“Running the game here has been a very satisfying job, but there are many other areas of the sport in which I feel I can make a big impact in an executive capacity.”

“To be at the helm of this organisation during the last two decades of growth and achievement has been a real honour as well as a tremendous challenge,” added the American.

Blazer indicated that he will retain his position as a member of FIFA’s executive committee, which he has held since 1997.

His current term with the game’s world governing body runs until 2013.

Earlier this year, following allegations of bribery at a meeting of the Caribbean Football Union, Blazer sparked an investigation into the Asian Football Confederation’s president Mohammed bin Hammam and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.