By David Gold
September 27 – The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) President Larry Mussenden (pictured) has warned his country’s Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney that FIFA could ban the country from international competition if he presses ahead with an inquiry into their finances.
Blakeney has appointed a commission to investigate how the BFA and the country’s cricket board spent $20 million (£13 million/€15 million) given to them by the Government.
It has proven a controversial decision, particularly given that two of the members of the Commission are former BFA Presidents and another used to be its technical director.
Mussenden says that whilst he has no issue with the Government wanting to discover how the money was spent, he is concerned about the repercussions of such a move from football’s governing body FIFA.
“FIFA takes a very strong view of government bodies overstepping their bounds and trying to get into the affairs of the member associations,” Mussenden said.
“There have been numerous cases before where FIFA tolerates no nonsense and they will issue a directive that, for instance, a clause like that actually be withdrawn.
“FIFA has issued threats before to countries that they will ban them from international competition and they stand by those threats.”
Bermuda has a crucial qualifying game with Trinidad and Tobago in Group B of the CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying section at the start of next month.
Trinidad have six points from two games, the same as Guyana, whilst Bermuda and Barbados are rooted to the bottom without a single point.
Mussenden is fearful that they could be prevented from playing the Trinidad game, and also points out that the Government inquiry must avoid looking into how money received from FIFA and sponsors is spent.
“We get money from sponsors, we get money from FIFA and there is no way that FIFA is going to allow a Government of any country to be enquiring how it is that they have decided that its money will be spent,” he added.
Mussenden also criticised the selection of the members of the commission, but Blakeney, speaking to The Royal Gazette, defended their presence in the inquiry.
“It is totally mischievous to infer improper motive by singling out three upstanding men personally, who would have been the first to reject serving in the capacity they were asked had they felt conflicted in any way at all,” he said.
“I am quite comfortable and confident that Mr [Donald] Dane, Mr [Charles] Marshall and Mr [Clyde] Best will make an invaluable contribution as principled men of exemplary character, and I am honoured that they have agreed to serve on the Committee with the four other members that constitute the members of the Commission.”
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