By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
March 19 – Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has dismissed the latest corruption allegations against him as “foolishness” and says there is a “witch hunt” against 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.
Despite being president of CONCACAF, which covers north and central America and the Caribbean, rumours have been circulating in the UK that the highly unpredictable Warner may have at some stage voted for Qatar during the 2010 ballot.
It is our understanding that this was never the case and that he voted for the US in each round – backing his own confederation’s representative.
The Trinidadian, who served as vice president of FIFA for 14 years and was one of 22 executives who voted in the ballot to award the 2022 World Cup to the Gulf state, has never publicly revealed his hand but had made it clear to the competing bidders who he was voting for throughout the process.
But on Tuesday Britain’s Daily Telegraph added intrigue to the entire process by revealing that the FBI is allegedly investigating payments made to Warner from a company owned by Mohammed bin Hammam, the Qatari who at the time ran Asian football.
Both men ultimately left FIFA in disgrace though not because of anything to do with Qatar, rather because of the 2011 cash-for-votes scandal surrounding bin Hammam’s then challenge for the FIFA presidency which he dropped once it emerged that Caribbean FIFA members had been offered bribes.
According to the Telegraph, part of the transaction allegedly made between Warner and bin Hammam took place just two weeks after the joint ballot for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups took place.
But Warner was quoted by Britain’s Press Association as saying: “I have no interest in joining in the foolishness that is now passing as news on Qatar and Jack Warner. Nor do I intend to join those who are on a witch hunt against the World Cup 2022 venue. And do consider this as my final comment on this matter.”
In Trinidad Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has encouraged Warner to co-operate with the investigation. The Trinidad Express reported Ramlogan as saying: “It is time that he submits himself to a full and comprehensive probe on this matter and one can only hope that he avails himself of the opportunity to clear his name.
“Bravado and arrogance would not cut it for this. This is now a matter of international concern. It is sullying Trinidad and Tobago’s international image and reputation because it has clearly gone beyond our borders.
“And it concerns not just a former minister, but someone who is a serving member of Parliament and who is a leader of a political party, therefore making him an aspirant to the highest political office of Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
“The implication and ramifications of that story, when one considers that context run quite deep and they are far-reaching. And therefore he owes the country and the public, the duty which he has to submit himself to the investigation and co-operate with them fully.”
The decision to award 2022 hosting rights to Qatar has been constantly shrouded in controversy, from summer temperatures which can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius to allegations of bribery and maltreatment of the Gulf state’s foreign workforce. The Qataris have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing in the bidding process.
The Daily Telegraph report also stated that payments were made to Warner’s family but one of his sons, Daryan, insisted he has never been involved in the 2022 World Cup.
“On what grounds has somebody who has not been involved in football have any influence on the decision of a World Cup?” Daryan Warner was quoted as saying by a Trinidad publication.
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