Works Minister Jack Warner yesterday lashed out at "sections" of world football body FIFA for feeding "misleading" information to the international media in a bid to undermine his legacy and Caribbean standing in FIFA affairs.
A 17-page document from FIFA's Ethics Committee leaked to the international press alleged that FIFA had "compelling" evidence that Asian soccer chief Mohamed bin Hammam and Warner conspired to bribe voters in the organisation's presidential election before it suspended them from world soccer's governing body.
FIFA's ethics committee concluded that the allegations bin Hammam offered US$40,000 cash payments to Caribbean officials "constitute prima facie an act of bribery".
Officials from the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands provided witness statements that were "coherent, credible and detailed," the panel decided.
A report into Warner's case, seen by several international news organisations including The Associated Press and Bloomberg said Warner was an accessory to bribery who offered "mere self-serving declarations" at a hearing last month.
The report was sent on June 14 to Warner, a 28-year veteran of FIFA's ruling executive committee who led the North, Central American and Caribbean regional body since 1990.
British media reported that parts of the document were first shown by the UK Press Association.
The ethics panel, headed by Namibian judge Petrus Damaseb, studied witness statements from officials representing four Caribbean federations who were allegedly offered brown envelopes stuffed with US$100 bills after hearing bin Hammam's election pitch on May 10 at a meeting at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) Hotel in Port of Spain.
Warner resigned on Monday as FIFA vice president and that of President of Concacaf and Caribbean Football Union.
The international media reported information allegedly culled from a FIFA Ethics Committee report which stated that Warner received the report on June 14 informing him of FIFA's findings that there was "comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming" evidence that he was involved in the controversial bribery scandal.
The whistleblowers said Warner told delegates that "the cash gift had been provided by Mr bin Hammam.
"The accused further stated that he had advised Mr bin Hammam to bring the cash equivalent of any gift he intended to bring to the delegates," Associated Press, stated quoting from the report.
FIFA declined to comment yesterday on the leaked report, which was first revealed by Britain's Press Association news agency.
Warner immediately responded yesterday, saying:
"It is my information that the purported "decision" document was not released by FIFA; nor was its circulation authorised by FIFA."
"As far as I was able to establish, the FIFA Ethics Committee report, which is being scurrilously circulated, summarizes the considerations on which the FIFA Ethics Committee decided on suspensions and a full hearing involving the subjects of the allegations on bid-rigging," Warner said.
Warner said it was interesting to note that investigations into the allegations were still "ongoing" and any suggestion that this was the Ethics Committee final findings was "false and misleading".
Warner said in accordance with "due process", FIFA Ethics Committee sent four copies of the preliminary investigations on May 29, one each by fax and a courier, one to his lawyer and another to the Concacaf office in New York, United States.
"The copies sent to me and my attorney could not possibly have been accessed by any scurrilous party bent on the malice manifestly intended in the anonymous leaks to the media in an investigation that is still ongoing," he noted.
Warner said he "had absolutely no doubt" that this latest development was an attempt to destroy the standing of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and undermine its influence in FIFA affairs.
"It is now evident that there are those in a section of the FIFA fraternity who, in the face of FIFA's stated position and its voluntary recognition of my contribution to world football and by definition to FIFA, will stop at no lengths to destroy my legacy and destabilise the Caribbean region," he said.
Warner said he fully expected these "vicious attacks" to continue from people with "hidden agendas".
"I, Jack Warner, did not partake in the distribution of any cash gifts to my members," he said.
He said when he announced his decision to resign on Monday, all the procedures regarding him and the FIFA Ethics Committee was "discontinued".
COP members chant 'Fire Jack' at City Hall
By Anna Ramdass (Express).
This was the chant by some members of the Congress of the People (COP) as the candidates on the leadership race focussed on the Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner at an election debate at City Hall, Port of Spain on Tuesday.
Three of the four contenders for the political leadership post — Anil Roberts, Prakash Ramadhar and Vernon De Lima were questioned on Warner's recent resignation from FIFA.
Warner and Asian football head Mohamed bin Hammam, who eventually withdrew his nomination for the post of FIFA president, were accused of offering bribes to members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) at a meeting in Trinidad, in May, in exchange for votes. Both men were suspended by FIFA and pending an investigation by FIFA's Ethics Committee. After Warner's resignation on Monday FIFA issued a release stating the presumption of innocence on Warner's part would be maintained.
Roberts, who had previously defended Warner saying he should not step down in the face of a probe, said at the debate that he would not have resigned but stayed on to ensure that his name was cleared.
"I would have ensured that the investigation went to its complete conclusion to ensure that not only my citizens in Trinidad and Tobago but the world at large would have known that I had nothing to do with such allegations, that they were unfounded and untrue," said Roberts.
"...Clearly one must understand when allegations are made at any point in time I would prefer that they follow their full investigations to clear my name because your name is all you have," he added.
He stood his ground, however, saying, "Furthermore I think it is irresponsible to suggest that if allegations are made against anyone and they deny those allegations that they should stop serving the people until an investigation is completed because that means that their work would be thwarted by those who have mischievous intentions".
Roberts denied that Warner was financing his campaign.
De Lima said that Warner should resign as a Government Minister as his controversy was negatively impacting on the image of this country.
"The reputation of our beloved Trinidad and Tobago has been tarnished...is Trinidad and Tobago more important than Jack Warner, the answer is yes, for me it is and in my respectful view Mr Jack Warner should step aside", said De Lima.
Ramadhar, who was criticised by Warner for saying he should step down said the people will judge Warner.
"I will not be judged by Mr Warner, let's make that very clear. I will be judged by the members of the Congress of the People," said Ramadhar.
He said he stands by the position of the COP, "Our view is the standard that has been set is that anyone, including myself, anybody in public life must step aside to allow an investigation to go on.
Exclusive: Warner feared for political career in Trinidad if FIFA had found him guilty
By Andrew Warshaw (insideworldfootball).
As the former FIFA vice-president continued to maintain his innocence, highly placed sources have also told insideworldfootball that under Swiss law, the charges against Warner had to be dropped once he no longer had any involvement in footballing matters.
Twenty-four hours after Warner threw in the towel with the net closing in around him, it emerged that he would not have been able to maintain his powerful position in Caribbean politics with the case against him strengthening.
Warner, who was one of football's most powerful administrators, is Minister of Works and Transport in Trinidad and Tobago and apparently decided as early as last Friday (June 17) to resign from FIFA after receiving the 17-page "reasoned decision" of the Ethics Committee.
He had already been suspended by the Committee, the same sanction meted out to Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam with whom Warner is claimed to have colluded in offering $40,000 (£24,000) cash bungs to 25 Caribbean member nations.
"The Ethics Committee made it clear Warner was going to lose by detailing violations of the Code of Ethics," said one informed source who has been involved in the case from the start.
"They went into every detail.
"Our understanding is that Warner actually submitted his resignation on Friday just after receiving the reasoned decision.
"Warner knew there would have been a very clear and concise guilty verdict at the end of the process.
"That would have caused him to be thrown out of Government."
As the worst bribes-for-votes crisis in FIFA's history intensified, Warner, who will now be replaced as President of CONCACAF, said he would be prepared to die rather than meet with former FBI Director Louis Freeh, the man charged by the Ethics Committee with leading the full investigation.
Warner said he would be willing to help FIFA but would not speak to Freeh because of his ties to the United States from where Chuck Blazer (pictured above right with Warner and Blatter), the CONCACAF general secretary who blew the whistle on Warner, also hails.
Blazer had asked Chicago-based lawyer John Collins, also from the US, to compile the initial report detailing the allegations against Bin Hammam and Warner.
"I will die first," Warner told Bloomberg.
"If FIFA wants me to cooperate I will do that but not with Freeh."
Warner quit saying he had felt undermined by officials within FIFA, not least Blazer with whom he has not spoken for over a month.
He claimed he had been "hung out to dry" following the infamous meeting he had organised for bin Hammam in Trinidad on May 10-11, ostensibly so that the Qatari could lobby for votes against Sepp Blatter for FIFA President.
But that was not the version given to insideworldfootball.
"The Ethics Committee clearly knew the Trinidad meeting was a set-up," said the afore-mentioned source.
With the bribery case against him still ongoing, Bin Hammam is understood to be digging in his heels rather than follow in footsteps of his alleged partner in crime even though FIFA dropped all charges against Warner, a move that came as a surprise to the organisation's inner sanctum.
FIFA imposed a virtual news blackout following their initial statement but one high-ranking administrator told insideworldfootball: "Apparently under Swiss law, technically FIFA no longer have jurisdiction in terms of disciplining Warner.
"That may be true but the case against him should have been concluded.
"To turn around and say they can't do it just because Warner is not a member any more is not in the interests of FIFA or the public.
"Maybe Warner giving evidence against Bin Hammam was part of the deal."