"I laugh like hell at England" claims Warner

By Andrew Warshaw

May 11 – FIFA vice-president Jack Warner today poured further scorn on sensational allegations that he asked for money to build an education centre in Trinidad in exchange for supporting England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

In what has become arguably biggest corruption scandal ever to hit at the heart of FIFA, Warner was named by former England bid chairman Lord Triesman as one of four Executive Committee members who asked for sweeteners during the bid process campaign.

Triesman made the allegations of “improper and unethical” behaviour during a special hearing on 2018 as part of the Parliamentary inquiry into the governance of English football.

The veteran Warner, in classic counter-punching mode, issued a strongly-worded denial, hitting back at Triesman by questioning his own credibility.

“I have no intention of dignifying that piece of nonsense of Triesman who no doubt feels that he can revive his dying political career by mentioning that piece of foolishness,” were Warner’s initial remarks.

“I have never asked Triesman nor any other person, Englishman or otherwise, for any money for my vote at any time.

“In the English World Cup campaign, before he was unceremoniously kicked out, I have spoken to Triesman, on his initiative, only on three occasions, while I have spoken to his other colleagues on other occasions and not one of his colleagues will ever corroborate his bit of trivia.

“I have been in the FIFA for 29 years and this will astound many I am sure including persons like [other England 2018 members] David Dein and Geoff Thompson.

“This is the last I intend to say on the matter.”

Except it was not.

In a report published in Trinidad today, the unpredictable Warner, who has long had a tense relationship with England – and especially its media – went to town by throwing the book at the way England conducted its 2018 campaign.

“I laugh like hell because it took those guys from December to now [to know] that I have £2.5 million ($4.1 million).

“I never asked anybody for anything.

“When these guys came here [in September 2010], they promised to help.

I took them to Longdenville, I showed them a place where they can put a playground.

“They promised to come back but they never did.

That’s all.”

Despite getting his facts wrong in terms of how much England spent on their bid and that 22 FIFA members ended up balloting instead of 24, Warner accused England, who only received two votes, of sour grapes.

“What is painful is that the FA spent £19 million ($31 million) in a bid, 24 persons in the FIFA, one is from England, seven [others] of whom from Europe.

“How come not even one person from Europe voted for them?

“And they’re looking for all different reasons.

“Why don’t they, in a dispassionate way, sit down and ask why not one European voted for them?”

The long-serving administrator, the great survivor who has been in trouble before with FIFA, said he was anticipating further attacks on his character.

But his response to the latest allegations will be seen by many as a clever away of deflecting attention away from his own situation, which could well now be investigated by FIFA’s Ethics Committee if they believe there is enough evidence to act.

Another Panorama broadcast is scheduled just before the FIFA Presidential election vote on June 1 and Warner will know full well that two FIFA Executive Committee members have already been suspended.

“The important thing is that I think nobody of substance really takes those guys seriously,” Warner continued.

“Triesman was unceremoniously removed,” he said, referring to the former FA chairman having to resign after accusing Spain and Russia, in a newspaper sting, of trying to bribe referees during the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

“Where is his credibility?

“At the end of the day, I hold my head tall because I can stand up and tell the world I never accepted anything.

“People who know me would be totally dismissive of that nonsense.

“He [Triesman] said that Ricardo Teixeira asked him for a knighthood but Brazil does not have a single knight, so why should Teixeira ask him to be called Sir Ricardo Teixeira, in Brazil?

“This is the kind of foolishness you have to understand and bear and what is for me painful.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734830284labto1734830284ofdlr1734830284owedi1734830284sni@w1734830284ahsra1734830284w.wer1734830284dna1734830284