By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has described himself as “incorruptible” following explosive new revelations about alleged serious financial foul play.
An investigation by the Trinidad Sunday Express newspaper claimed that 100m Trinidad and Tobago dollars (US$15.6m) went missing during Warner’s dealings with local football since 2006.
The investigation also claimed that millions of dollars were transferred to Warner’s bank accounts from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).
“If I did not believe that (I was incorruptible) I wouldn’t say it,” said Warner, the former head of CONCACAF who is alleged to have facilitated the May 2011, Trinidad meeting where the infamous cash-for-votes scandal that rocked world football took place.
Warner, who walked away from football just as FIFA investigators were closing in, added: “You point to anything that I have done as a Minister in this country that warrant me to change my opinion. Nothing.”
Taking a giant swipe at reporters who uncovered the latest episode, Warner added: “In 2013…. we are struggling to prevent us from being the world’s most stupid country as far as journalism is concerned.”
“Who would have thought that after bringing this country, the smallest country on earth in 2006, to the biggest event on earth (World Cup football) that seven years after, I would read so much garbage? Who would have thought so?”
Warner wielded huge power at both regional and global level but has long been tarnished with a succession of corruption scandals, culminating in claims he was complicit in the bribery allegations surrounding Mohamed Bin Hammam’s bid to oust Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
Despite continuing to occupy a senior governmental position, Warner cannot escape relentless reporting into both his business and football dealings, often inextricably linked. Last month Reuters reported that one of Warner’s sons and business partners, Daryan Warner, was in the United States “assisting” the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Inland Revenue Service in connection with a $500,000 payout made over 20 years.
Opposition politicians in Trinidad and Tobago want Warner to step down from his role as National Security Minister at least while allegations against him are investigated. So far Prime Minister Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has stood by him but the latest reports, alleging the misappropriation of a small fortune, much of it linked to World Cup funds, have heaped even more pressure on the one-time FIFA powerbroker.
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