[FIFA IN CRISIS] Jack Warner unleashed his “tsunami” on FIFA following the decision of its ethics committee to suspendformer FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam, two Caribbean Football Union officials and him.
Warner claimed FIFA President
And Warner quoted FIFA SecretaryGeneral Jerome Valcke — its CEO — as saying in an email to Warner Qatar “bought” the 2022 World Cup.
Valcke immediately responded to thedisclosure of the e-mail to Warner, saying he meant that Qatar successfully used its “financial strength” of an energy-rich nation to lobby support but he did not mean to claim anyunethical behavior on the part of the Qatari bid campaign.
The Qatari World Cup organization said it would consider legal action.
Warner’sstatement:
“I have learned this evening via the media that I have been provisionally suspended by the FIFA Ethics Committee. This has come both as a shock and surprise tome. At the conclusion of the enquiry I specifically requested that I be notified of any decision as I had learned via the media before attending the hearing that a decision would be handed downat 5 p.m. Despite leaving my contact details, up to this point, I still have not received any notification from the FIFA.
“At the hearing I indicated that I submitted two writtenstatements outlining my position. I expressed my disappointment with the way in which the enquiry was conducted as I was given less than twenty four hours to submit a statement for considerationby the committee and, moreover, one of the five members of the Committee is from Uruguay and did not have the value of a translated version of my or Mr bin Hammam’s submission. This lack oftranslation services brings into question the issue of due process.
“In addition, FIFA did not have the courtesy to provide me with copies of the allegations before the hearing and it wasonly during the hearing were the allegations read to me.
At the hearing, among other things, I was asked about the special meeting with the CFU to hear Mr Bin Hammam and whether such a meetingwas normal I indicated that President Blatter earlier this year had held a similar meeting in South Africa with thirty seven countries and no objections had been made of that to date. In factthis has been the practice of FIFA in holding meetings with member countries before elections.
“I denied the allegations that I made statements at the CFU meeting about gifts being givenby Mr Bin Hammam. I also indicated that at the Miami CONCACAF Congress on May 3rd Mr. Blatter made a gift of one million USD to CONCACAF to spend as it deems fit. This annoyed President MichelPlatini who was present and he approached Secretary General Jerome Valcke complaining that Mr Blatter had no permission from the Finance Committee to make this gift to which Jerome replied that hewill find the money for Mr Blatter.
“I also indicated at the CFU meeting held in Trinidad on May 10 which was requested by Mr. Bin Hammam, FIFA through Mr. Blatter organised gifts oflaptops and projectors to all members of the Caribbean and no objections have been made today of this to date.
In my statement I attached letters from thirteen Federations whose members attendedthe CFU Meeting where the allegations of gifts were made.
“These statements from the 13 members denied the allegations that have been made against me and any participation of theseindividuals in the act complained of. While with regard to the allegation of payment only one statement was submitted by Collins & Collins.
“On May 18 when I realised that thepolitical battle between Blatter and Bin Hammam was getting out of hand I wrote Secretary General Valcke telling him, among other things, that the outcome of the elections may cause some fracture inthe Arab world which we can ill afford now and that I will like to ask Bin Hammam to withdraw from the race. To which Jerome replied to me and I quote:
“For MBH, I never understoodwhy he was running. If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore JSB. Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC. I have abet since day one, he will withdraw but on June 1st after his 10 min speech. By doing so he can say he push Blatter to make new commitments bla bla bla and get out under applause. Before means he is alooser. So…He will get some votes. Less than 60 today after CAF support. It will be the “coup de grace” if you would officially send a message as the CONCACAF President by saying CONCACAF supportsunanimously. So I am not giving you an advice but just my feeling about what I think is the situation.”
“Despite the plea from SG Valcke, I refused to give any advice about how CONCACAFwill be voting.
“At no time during this matter was I ever contacted by Mr. Blazer nor did he contact the Executive or the Emergency Committee of the CONCACAF and it is informative for oneto look at Mr Blazer’s credibility by referring to the report of the NY District Court Judge in the matter between Master Card and Visa in the FIFA matter of 7th December 2006.
“(para213) Mr. Blazer’s testimony was generally without credibility based on his attitude and demeanor on his evasive answers on cross-examination.
“(para 214) Thus, for that reason and basedon his evasive answers and his attitude and demeanor, Mr. Blazer’s testimony as the March 14, 2006 Marketing & TV AG Board meeting is rejected as fabricated.
“The complaints made inthis matter are politically motivated against Mr Bin Hammam and me and are designed, among other things, to cause serious prejudice and damage to both Mr Bin Hammam and myself at one of the mostcritical times for the FIFA.
“It is also shocking that at the close of an enquiry at around 5:47pm when the decision was already delivered new evidence in the form of a fax from the PuertoRico FF appears making allegations which were treated as part of the evidence in this matter. This further demonstrates in the way the enquiry was conducted and the prejudice against me. The decisionto suspend me is an abuse of the process and achieves no real purpose as stated in the decision and again demonstrates the bias of this enquiry.
“I intend to say a lot more on this mattershortly.
“In the meantime, I will vigorously defend my reputation as well as the reputation of the rest of the Caribbean members.”
Apparently there is no honor whatsoever left in the Den of Thieves known as FIFA.
Apparently there is no honor whatsoever left in the Den of Thieves known as FIFA.