st. john's, antigua(cmc)
EMBATTLED TRINIDAD AND Tobago football administrator Jack Warner is receiving full support from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) ahead of his meeting with the FIFA Executive to discuss his "conflict of interest" issue regarding World Cup tickets.
The Committee for Ethics and Fair Play found last month that because of Warner's involvement with Simpaul Travel Service, the famous administrator had a conflict of interest surrounding ticketing for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and as a result had violated FIFA's "Code of Ethics".
SHOW OF SOLIDARITY
But the 30 nations that make up the CFU stood united in full support of its President Warner after voting unanimously in favour of a motion calling for "a show of solidarity" for him at the 29th Ordinary Congress of the CFU in Antigua last weekend.
This unanimous support for Warner, who in addition to being CFU president is president of CONCACAF and a vice-president of FIFA, comes just over a week ahead of his facing FIFA bosses to make a ruling on their findings.
Electing to address the issue head-on, Warner stated that he fully supports high standards in public life and had supported FIFA's Code of Ethics since its introduction in 2004.
Warner added that for this reason it was he who had sought the advice himself of the FIFA Committee for Ethics and Fair Play over the "conflict of interest" issue.
"That committee has now given its advice, advice which I fully accept, and I am now taking all actions necessary to eliminate any appearance of a conflict of interest," Warner said.
Following the expression of solidarity by the CFU, and numerous commendations from individual member associations praising Warner's sterling leadership and tireless efforts on behalf of Caribbean football, Warner said the groundswell of support had touched his heart and emboldened him in continuing his work on behalf of his those he represents.
"The statement of Caribbean unity in support of its President came at the end of a Congress that had already successfully dealt with a number of issues including progress with FIFA Development Programmes (FIFA Goal and the FIFA Assistance Programme) and criteria for player eligibility in non-independent nations in the Caribbean Football Union," CONCACAF stated in a release.
The FIFA Executive Committee will decide on a penalty on March 16-17 and, according to its own statutes, could expel Warner from FIFA.
A week after FIFA's mid-February announcement that found Warner guilty of a conflict of interest, Trinidad and Tobago's Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley called on the world football governing body to investigate TT$348 million (US$55.6 million) spending on the Under-17 Youth World Championship four years ago.
Rowley said FIFA should investigate the role of its Vice President Warner, who he alleged doubled the cost of four stadia that were built when Trinidad and Tobago hosted the Under-17 World Cup in 2002.
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