190 replies to this topic

[RobH]

Fifa has launched an investigation into bribery allegations involving four officials, including vice-president Jack Warner and presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

The allegations were made by executive committee member Chuck Blazer.

Blazer claims Fifa's code of ethics was violated at a meeting on 10 and 11 May organised by Bin Hammam and Warner.

The other two officials are Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester from the Caribbean Football Union.

The meeting was in relation to the Fifa presidential election, which takes place on 1 June.

Bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, is running against current president Sepp Blatter to be the new head of football's world governing body.

The four officials have been called to a hearing of Fifa's ethics committe in Zurich on 29 May.

Fifa has announced that Claudio Sulser, the head of the ethics committee, will not take charge of the hearing as he shares Swiss nationality with Bin Hammam's presidential rival Blatter.

The committee's deputy chairman Petrus Damaseb of Namibia will instead chair proceedings.

The Fifa statement read: "On May 24 2011, FIFA executive committee member and Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer reported to Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke possible violations of the Fifa code of ethics allegedly committed by officials.

"In particular, the report referred to a special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), apparently organised jointly by Fifa vice-president Jack A. Warner and Fifa executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam, which took place on May 10 and 11 2011.

"This meeting was linked to the upcoming FIFA presidential election.

"In view of the facts alleged in this report, which include bribery allegations, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke, in compliance with art. 16 of the Fifa code of ethics, yesterday requested the Fifa ethics committee to open ethics proceedings."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13544347.stm

Great news and amazing that Blazer is going after Warner after supporting him for so long. That's a big thing for him to do and I hope he's successful in removing this cancer from FIFA.

But interesting timing no? Call me cynical but this seems like genius from Blatter to me....

Of course, Warner is known to be a hugely troublesome figure for FIFA and everyone including Blatter knows he's corrupt to the core, but Blatter can't get rid of him because he is an ally who controls 35 votes in the Presidential election.

Then a gift from Santa Claus (aka Chuck Blazer) lands on Valcke's desk. Valcke goes to Blatter and says to him "I can bury this news as usual Mr Blatter, nobody needs to know and everyone thinks Andrew Jennings is a bit mad anyway". But a lightbulb goes off in ol' Sepp's head.

"What if we have an Ethics Committee meeting two days before the Presidential Election?" he asks. Valcke agrees, and leaves Blatter's office.

"Excellent," thinks Blatter "we get rid of Jack at last, but it doesn't affect me because our Qatari friend is also suspended so I win the election by default. And I get to show the world the Ethics Committee is strong. This is sewn up tighter than a pair of women's footballer's shorts."

Blatter sits back, combs his slick greasy hair and grins to himself.

-------------

Or am I being too cynical? How come this is being properly investigated and so soon and with such urgency? It seems very un-FIFA-like.

Edited by RobH, 25 May 2011 - 07:42 AM.

[baron-pierreIV]

Or am I being too cynical? How come this is being properly investigated and so soon and with such urgency? It seems very un-FIFA-like.

Well, actually, if you were to go down the line alphabetically, who comes after Blatter? Why, BLAZer!! Hmmmmm...maybe there are indeed the stirrings of a revolt against the 2022 decision? Maybe this is an appetizer so that if the issue comes up at the convention, it would not be a surprise??? Intriguing!

[Michelle]

Fifa, without Warner, Bin Hammam and the 2 other representatives will still be the same ol' Fifa i'm afraid. With Blatter at the helm, it will remain murky and doubts will linger. Blatter is concerned with nothing else than staying on as President, he will do everything to keep his post.

Warner, is a disgrace. And shld have been sacked for other events in the past. Bin Hammam, is no better. He bemoans those that criticise Fifa, but in actual fact is just as corrupt as the next guy... and there's a lot of guys in Fifa who shld be examined.

Personally, I think the whole lot shld be thrown out. Fifa is not fit for purpose. If the IOC can reform, then so too can Fifa - and it must.

2018 and 2022 are now seen as farce elections. I doubt they will be re-run, but if it is proven that Fifa has corrupt officials - who voted in the election - I don't understand how such results can stand.

Certainly, it adds weight to the Sunday Times and BBC investigations of last year - and these allegations shld now be reopened and re-examined, instead of being shouted down by Sepp Blatter and Bin Hammam.

Now that we have 2 ExCo members crying foul, something needs to be done asap. I, too, feel the timing is suspect - but regardless... Fifa needs to be reformed. An election for its President, shld not take place before such reforms are implemented IMHO. But we are under no illusion, Sepp has a stranglehold on this organization.

Though, if enough football federations abstained from the vote - it would send a message to Fifa. It is within their power to do this, the English FA are abstaining - they shld be commended. France & others shld follow, if they have any respect for football and its image.

The whole thing is a joke... and Sepp, is certainly NO Saint.

Edited by Michelle, 25 May 2011 - 01:24 PM.

[arwebb]

There are so many critical questions surrounding today's developments that it seems wholly inappropriate for next week's presidential election to go ahead. How can any poll be taken seriously when one of the candidates is reportedly facing bribery allegations? And what happens if Bin Hammam wins and is then found guilty of wrongdoing? What an absolute mess.

Most of the questions though, naturally, relate to the position and conduct of Chuck Blazer. Why has he spoken out now? Is he firmly in the Blatter camp, as an initial reading of this move may suggest? Or is he positioning himself closer to where the English FA appears to be standing right now as more of a reformist than may otherwise have been the case? And what exactly is going on within CONCACAF to make him turn on Jack Warner as he has? I just sense there's got to be more to this than simply Blazer working for Blatter.

[RobH]

Some more detail:

It is understood that Blazer’s report alleges that Warner, on behalf of Bin Hammam, offered members of the Caribbean Football Union $40,000 (£25,000) in cash as a “gifts” and “development projects” , and that it was implied that the money was in return for votes in the presidential election.

It is alleged that the approaches were made in private meetings with Warner and that all 25 members of the CFU with a vote in the presidential election may have been approached.

The report was prepared on Blazer’s behalf by John Collins, a former federal prosecutor and partner in the Chicago legal firm Collins and Collins, after he was approached by CFU members outraged at the approaches.

“I conducted the investigation,” Collins, a member of Fifa’s legal committee, told Telegraph Sport. “I interviewed a number of parties and collated a number of documents including sworn affidavits. I then passed the report to Fifa on Mr Blazer’s behalf.”

As well as testimony from Blazer, Telegraph Sport understands that the allegations are supported by signed affidavits from several witnesses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/8536701/Jack-Warner-and-Mohamed-Bin-Hammam-to-be-accused-of-offering-40000-bribes-to-national-associations.html

And some Tweets about the strength of the evidence:

US attorneys compiled the Warner/Bin Hammam bribery file at Blazer's request, includes photographic evidence.

File of bribery allegations against Jack Warner/Bin Hammam includes sworn affidavits that bundles of US bills handed over.

Edited by RobH, 25 May 2011 - 03:05 PM.

[RobH]

A great post Michelle, well said.

I wouldn't expect anything from the French FA though, and the English FA are making the weakest stand possible, so it's not worth giving them too much praise even thought they have, eventually, decided to make the tiniest of protests.

Apart from being embroiled in the fallout from last year's world cup still the French FA have now got the race quotas row to deal with. And Platini - despite being labelled as incorruptible by Triesman - wants to take over as head honcho when Blatter's done. He, and therefore the French FA, won't rock the boat. I'd say that's one of Blatter's more certain votes.

Platini may make a decent FIFA President in a few years, but his only chance of getting there is appeasement.

[arwebb]

If that is true then it certainly doesn't look good for Bin Hammam. Questions still stand about Blazer's motivations, however.

[baron-pierreIV]

If that is true then it certainly doesn't look good for Bin Hammam. Questions still stand about Blazer's motivations, however.

It's all an anglo-saxon plot!!!

Edited by baron-pierreIV, 25 May 2011 - 04:21 PM.

[Sir Rols]

Whoa! I had no inkling of this until I came in and saw this thread. Talk about a week of FIFA bombshells. And Warner and Bin Hammam now smelling of shite.

Tell you what, it takes my breath away how ruthlessly Sepp has played this presidential campaign. I actually think that there may be a strong chance the 2022 vote could get re-done now - a week ago I would have given the notion buckley's.

[Hobart]

Sepp you’re a very smart man just before the vote for your re-election starts you tell the media that you are going to have an investigation into your only rival from Qatar about the 2022 bid and bribery. FIFA member get wary of voting for him in case he is found to have been involved in bribes. Sepp gets back in for another term as president and all of a sudden you find no evidence that Qatar bribed anyone to get the 2nd biggest sporting event and the investigation is called off, even though you own technical committee found it was the least capable of hosting the event.

Sepp then brings in a reform to stop it from ever happening again and FIFA is made to look like a scruples organisation and a transparent bidding process for future world cups.

Sepp you are laughing all the way to the bank you slimy little worm I hope your life is short so you can not enjoy all the money you got under the table