By Andrew Warshaw
January 2 – Ted Howard (pictured centre) has officially been named the new acting general secretary of CONCACAF, the FIFA Confederation covering North and Central America and the Caribbean – as revealed exclusively two weeks ago by Insideworldfootball.
Howard replaces fellow American Chuck Blazer who announced in October that he would be stepping down at the end of 2011 but remains a member of FIFA’s Executive Committee.
Howard, CONCACAF deputy general secretary since 1998, served as director and group manager of NBA Marketing from 1988 until joining CONCACAF a decade later.
He was executive director of the North American Soccer League from 1971 until it folded in 1984.
Blazer was the whistle-blower who revealed that CONCACAF President Jack Warner and Asian football supremo Mohamed Bin Hammam tried to bribe Caribbean delegates to vote for Bin Hammam in FIFA’s Presidential election.
Warner subsequently resigned while Bin Hammam was banned for life pending appeal.
CONCACAF has yet to appoint a full-time President to replace Warner.
Alfredo Hawit currently doing the job in an interim basis.
Lisle Austin, Warner’s initial acting successor, was suspended for a year after illegally trying to fire Blazer in the wake of the cash-for-votes scandal.
Howard’s appointment maintains a strong American influence at the head of CONCACAF though his primary challenge will be to restore unity after a horribly divisive year for the Confederation.
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