FIFA Suspend Hammam and Warner
Two of football’s most powerful international officials were suspended by the sport’s governing body yesterday [May 29] pending an investigation over allegations they tried to buy votes for FIFA’s presidency.
The FIFA ethics committee cleared FIFA president Sepp Blatter of corruption but suspended Mohamed bin Hammam and CONCACAF President Jack Warner yesterday [May 29]. Caribbean Football Union [CFU] officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester have also been suspended.
Mohamed Bin Hammam is alleged to have colluded with Jack Warner to offer bribes of $40,000 to football officials in the Caribbean.
The meeting was held in the Caribbean on May 10th & 11th, and was attended by Bermuda Football Association Second Vice-President Gregory Grimes and General Secretary David Sabir.
A file of evidence claimed up to $40,000 were handed over to members of the CFU. Â The payments were allegedly made in exchange for votes for Bin Hammam in his quest to win the presidency from FIFA president Sepp Blatter. In turn, Bin Hammam claimed Blatter was aware of some wrongdoing but did not report it.
The FIFA presidential election will go ahead as planned on June 1. Bermuda is represented at the FIFA Meeting by BFA President Larry Mussenden, BFA Program Developer and Coordinator Ian Rawlins and BFA Deputy Chairman of Marketing Anthony Francis.
The BBC reports today that Jack Warner said, “I also indicated Fifa, through Mr Blatter, organised gifts of laptops and projectors to all members of the Caribbean and no objections have been made today of this to date.”
When asked about this situation this afternoon, BFA General Secretary David Sabir said they do not have a response at this particular time, as the President is presently overseas at a FIFA conference, therefore they defer any comment until such time as the President returns.
