By Andrew Warshaw
May 25 – Football’s world governing body FIFA was plunged into disarray today when it was forced to launch an investigation into alleged bribery involving both Presidential challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam and veteran vice-president Jack Warner.
In an unprecedented move, FIFA announced that both bin Hammam and Warner had been summoned to a meeting of its Ethics Committee on Sunday (May 29) – two days before the FIFA Congress and three before the vote for FIFA president.
According to unconfirmed reports, the pair are to face disciplinary action for allegedly offering bribes to members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in exchange for votes in next week’s election.
The extraordinary allegations, which could potentially scupper Wednesday’s ballot in Zurich, are understood to be contained in a report from Chuck Blazer, the outspoken general secretary of CONCACAF, and a prominent member of FIFA’s Executive Committee.
They relate specifically to Bin Hammam’s recent visit to Trinidad where he met a majority of CONCACAF members who were also members of the CFU.
The meeting took place after Bin Hammam, head of the Asian Football Confederation, was refused a visa to attend a CONCACAF Congress in Miami a few days earlier.
Afterwards, Warner announced that although CONCACAF had long supported Blatter, the Confederation would not officially declare which Presidential candidate it would support until before the June 1 election.
In a brief statement FIFA said: “On 24 May 2011, FIFA Executive Committee member and CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer reported to FIFA Secretary General Jérôme 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 10 and 11 May 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 Jérôme Valcke, in compliance with article 16 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, yesterday requested the FIFA Ethics Committee to open ethics proceedings.
“Subsequently, the FIFA Ethics Committee today, 25 May 2011, opened a procedure against the following officials: – FIFA Vice-President Jack A. Warner; FIFA Executive Committee member Mohamed bin Hammam; CFU official Debbie Minguell; CFU official Jason Sylvester.
“The aforementioned officials have been invited to take position by 27 May 2011 and to attend a hearing by the FIFA Ethics Committee at the Home of FIFA (Zurich) on 29 May 2011.”
The investigation into Bin Hammam, Warner and two lesser known officials will send shockwaves around the world given that the allegations appear totally unconnected with other equally serious corruption claims that Blatter has promised to investigate before next week’s election.
These involve no fewer than six members of FIFA’s Executive Committee, all of whom are alleged to have been caught up in unsubstantiated accusations surrounding either England’s doomed 2018 World Cup bid or Qatar’s successful 2022 campaign.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734834271labto1734834271ofdlr1734834271owedi1734834271sni@w1734834271ahsra1734834271w.wer1734834271dna1734834271
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