FIFA election is "not a popularity contest" claims Warner

By Andrew Warshaw

May 8 – CONCACAF boss Jack Warner (pictured) has stressed that the Confederation will not allow personalities to dictate which candidate to back in the forthcoming FIFA Presidential election.

Warner, FIFA’s long-serving vice-president, is widely assumed to have already instructed CONCACAF to support Sepp Blatter on June 1 but is holding his cards firmly to his chest until he has heard from the challenger, Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Bin Hammam missed last week’s CONCACAF Congress because of visa problems but will instead lobby delegates in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday (May 10) after receiving a courtesy invitation from Warner.

Crucially, as first reported by insideworldfootball, the challenger for the FIFA presidency will only be addressing those CONCACAF representatives who are also part of the Caribbean Football Union rather than the entire 35-strong CONCACAF membership.

But Warner insists that will not place Bin Hammam at a disadvantage.

“No one in CONCACAF has expressed displeasure over Mr Blatter’s tenure, but in the interest of fair play and democracy I cannot deny my membership the opportunity to hear all sides of this campaign,” said Warner on the eve of Bin Hammam’s visit.

Warner, who was last week confirmed for a sixth term as CONCACAF president after being nominated unopposed, said the policies of both candidates needed to be scrutinised.

“An election is not a popularity contest, and as the world still grapples with shifting economic realities we must ensure that our sport is in a position to withstand any uncertainty.”

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