Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
THE REVELATION that the FBI is investigating FIFA should bring an end to three decades of institutional corruption, personified in recent times by President Sepp Blatter.
I have been talking with Special Agents from the Organised Crime and Racketeering Section of the Department of Justice in Washington and with an FBI Organised Crime squad from New York since they contacted me seeking evidence nearly three years ago.
Law enforcement sources in New York and Washington confirmed today that they are investigating “a major case” involving allegations of corruption at FIFA. The probe is into allegations of fraud and bribery. It began in the North, Central American and Caribbean regional football confederation but the money trail leads back to FIFA’s HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
Unofficial sources have confirmed that Daryan Warner, eldest son of disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner of Trinidad, has become a co-operating witness with the FBI probe. Warner jnr has been resident in Florida for the last two months and clearly is not free to leave America.
It has yet to be divulged what evidence the FBI have on him but it is likely to be substantial and enough to make him break family confidences in return for serving less jail time.
Daryan Warner was always the ‘back office’ money-man organising the laundering and concealment of bribes and profits from every kind of illicit football activity by his father – siphoning off grants, dealing in World Cup tickets and pocketing substantial bribes from countries hoping to host the World Cup.
Warner frequently worked in concert with fellow FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer from New York.
The FIFA career of Jack Warner began to unravel in May 2011 when he was caught with $1 million in bribes, in envelopes each containing $40,000 in cash, for distributing to Caribbean football associations. The aim was to persuade them to vote for Qatar’s Mohamed Bin Hammam who was contesting the FIFA presidency against incumbent Sepp Blatter.
Blazer ‘ratted’ on Warner to FIFA but was himself soon engulfed in documented corruption allegations.
(Courtesy transparencyinsport.org)
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read the full report from Andrew Jennings.
Trinidad and Tobago is now free to extradite former Fifa vice-president and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner to face racketeering Read more
“1990?” asks Bobby, a rueful look distorting his facial features, “What I remember best about that campaign is Philbert Jones Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) can finally begin paying off its creditors—under terms agreed in May—after High Court Read more
When Austin ‘Jack’ Warner speaks about football administration issues and nuances, especially as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago, my Read more
Somewhere between 2006 and 2010, as Trinidad and Tobago’s football stock fell on and off the field—and, as always, the Read more
“[…] It gets baking hot in Qatar, folks. Deal with it. The next tournament will be jointly hosted by the Read more
Trinidad and Tobago is now free to extradite former Fifa vice-president and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner to face racketeering Read more
“1990?” asks Bobby, a rueful look distorting his facial features, “What I remember best about that campaign is Philbert Jones Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) can finally begin paying off its creditors—under terms agreed in May—after High Court Read more
When Austin ‘Jack’ Warner speaks about football administration issues and nuances, especially as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago, my Read more
Somewhere between 2006 and 2010, as Trinidad and Tobago’s football stock fell on and off the field—and, as always, the Read more
“[…] It gets baking hot in Qatar, folks. Deal with it. The next tournament will be jointly hosted by the Read more
Andrew Jennings has been chasing ‘bad men’ around the world for more than three decades. His book, The Lords of the Rings, on Olympic corruption and the fascist background of the IOC president was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the Top One Hundred Sports Books of all Time.
His last book on FIFA corruption, Foul!, is now in 15 languages despite an attempt by Herr Blatter using FIFA funds in Switzerland to persuade a Zurich court to impose a global ban.
Well let all of these alleged offenders prove that they are not guilty. They have been given a chance to defend themselves.
Yea the same A.Jennings and he family that maybe sold our ancestors into Chattel slavery and may have had some slave plantation in the Caribbean,and now all them vex they didn’t profit from owning enslaved afrikans and working them for hundreds of years,,time to go behind those too,U.S so-called Justice de-partment..
Shud we allow blacks to do crime today because whites did crime years ago?
Andrew must have popped opened a bottle of bubbly by now
Don’t you go thinking, people, that the cabal is limited to the UNC. Ramlogan, Moonilal, Suruj and co are the UNC cabal headed by Kamla but Jack, Rowley et al are all part of the cabal that are sucking T&T, in other words, you and me dry. Me eh shedding no crocodile tears fuh none ah dem. Extradite all ah dem they ass. And good riddance!
Andre Bunting – During the Chaguanas West by-election Dr Rowley stated that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” in relation to Warner and the PP. Mc Donald (confirmed crook that she is) also gave Jack the support of the chief whip office in raising questions when he is not at parliament
Adrian Clarke how did the PNM cozy up with the ILP ???
I told alyuh that the white plane was coming to pick up the corrupted Jack Warner in a timing. Them really good yes.
The UNC will go to town with this. They should be worried as they benefitted from his alleged dealings.
Well, he’s in for a rude awakening…. He might wake up to a seal team 6 or Obama drone
In his office he says, they know where to find him…hmm
Not only FBI!. American justice department, NSA all want our uncle jack!. He in real trouble. They looking for him. Where is he?.
ASK your MUDDER LOL
I now saying way ish and buddy lol
It will be funny if they extradite Jack before Ish and Steve
FIFA (and the powerful Jack Warner) embarrassed some of the biggest players in the US and Britain in the lead up to the vote on the World Cups. These included David Beckham, British royalty and even (to a certain extent) Barack Obama. They were even more embarrassed to find out, when the announcements were made, that their entreaties had been spurned. After peevish public responses by Warner to negative stories in the British press. At that level, there will be consequences. He may have to hope for another Section 34. He’s an amazing individual, but……
FIFA Director of Communications, Walter De Gregorio, saying that Blatter is not involved and would continue as president
https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/603491563726086145
Now seeing a FIFA press conference on BBC news
I really can’t take credit. I did my work as honestly as I can. But great criminals are not arrested in Trinidad. They end up in the Government or running it.
Wow ! Can I borrow this statement ?
Feel free.
Many many years waiting for the same with the gang that governs FIVB (Volleyball Federation), the same style the Mexican Acosta, guilty of taking for him 33 Millons Us, teached to Ary Graca, Cristobal Marte, and Wei, their Vicepresidents, now governing the most corrupted Sports Organization.
One can hope Mario Daniel Goijman
Finally all ur hard work payed off thank god
The US had enough. Trinidad never laid a glove on him.
Great job Lasana Liburd.
The PNM was cozying up to the ILP over the last two years. Let’s see if they will back out now .
Shit just got real.