Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Sport Minister Brent Sancho could feasibly find himself reported to the Integrity Commission after leaked documentation showed that CONCACAF money due to the Pro League club was diverted into the minister’s personal bank account.
Sancho is a former World Cup 2006 player and CEO of local Pro League club, Central FC.
(Courtesy SPORTT)
Then Central FC operations manager Kevin Harrison admitted that he directed CONCACAF to wire US$40,000 (TT$253,000) to a United States-based bank account owned by Sancho. Harrison, who is British, also serves as advisor to the Sport Minister and is paid by the Trinidad and Tobago Government.
The CONCACAF payment was supposed to help the “Couva Sharks” with expenses for their trip to Los Angeles where they faced MLS team, LA Galaxy, in the Champions League.
Sancho was appointed as Sport Minister on 2 February 2015 and has repeatedly insisted that he is not involved in Central business due to the obvious conflict of interest.
The Sport Minister declined comment on the payment to his account. However, Harrison tried to clear it up.
Why was CONCACAF directed to send money to Sancho in July, five months after his appointment as Sport Minister?
Harrison suggested that the CONCACAF paperwork happened while Sancho was still Central CEO.
“The only reason I think CONCACAF would have even a record of Brent Sancho,” Harrison told Wired868, “is because we had to apply (for the CONCACAF Champions League) early.”
Wired868 can confirm that Central had not even qualified for the Champions League when Sancho was appointed Sport Minister.
Central only booked its spot in the Champions League on 22 May 2015 after a penalty shoot out win over Haitian club, Don Bosco. And CONCACAF asked qualified teams to send bank details on 28 May 2015.
Why did Harrison not forward the club’s bank details rather than Sancho’s?
“Central didn’t have a US bank account at the time,” said Harrison. “When we filled out all the application forms, the only US account we had access to was Brent’s own. So we put that down for ease of use.”
There is no stipulation that the club needed a US bank account.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
More relevantly, Harrison did not explain why Central did not simply open a US account, since CONCACAF gave the Sharks between May 28 and June 12, roughly two weeks, to provide the necessary bank details.
Interestingly, Sancho did not immediately forward the US$40,000 to Central when he received it. Instead, as the Sharks prepared to face Galaxy, other club officials received word that they were due money for their trip to the United States.
Harrison admitted that there was a time lag before Sancho relayed the money to the relevant club officials. In the interim, Central struggled to get visas and tickets in time and the players travelled to Los Angeles in three batches.
They were subsequently thrashed 5-1 by Galaxy.
“We got an enquiry from Central FC (who asked) did you receive money,” said Harrison, “and lo and behold the money was there (in Sancho’s account). I personally got the cheque from Sancho and gave it to someone at the club.
“It was for (around) US$39,000 because there were some charges…
“As far as I am aware, Central FC then opened an account afterwards and directed CONCACAF money to be sent there.
“I have not been involved with Central FC since. They keep me out of the loop.”
Adams died on 30 December 2013 after failing to recover from a heart attack.
(Courtesy Allan V. Crane/Wired868)
Central FC, the reigning Pro League and Caribbean club champion team, is owned and largely funded by SIS directors and, contrary to common belief, Sancho is not a part-owner.
The relevant SIS officials are rumoured to be now keen to relinquish their role with Central and sell the club to any interested buyer. However, Wired868 could not confirm this potential change in direction and Harrison said he was unaware of any such moves.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force confirmed today that Trinidad and Tobago national and burgeoning sport official Shem Alexander is in its Read more
On Tuesday, Rob Stevens, writing for BBC Sport Africa, presented a comprehensive look at the overall performances at the Paris Read more
New Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron “Bo” Edwards is set to be installed as technical and development Read more
“[…] Why do we have to partner with the GC Foster College (of Jamaica) when we have the Sport and Read more
In February 2023, immediately after receiving official word of their successful application to participate in the 16-22 July Gothia Cup Read more
Nearly a year after receiving their gold medals at a reallocation ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago’s 4x100M relay Read more
Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Sorry for yourself Pauline Bartholomew
Might I add, if the allegations are true…. maybe, Minister Sancho saw nothing happened to His Excellency, the President of T&T when he was taking house allowance while living in a substitute house and this gave him the green light to act. Maybe also, he is of the resolve that if he is removed he would get a new job somewhere on a contract basis. Or maybe, he just made the wrong chess move and now is in checkmate mode. Is this by design Lasana? Is that why the first picture of this release shows Sancho at the chess board – no moves on it yet though!
All I getting out of this story and many other international stories going back is the question: are there any honest sportsmen and women or is it that they honest until we prove them otherwise?
You do know that by putting Mr. Sancho’s name and bank account information on the internet, you’re making him and the bank open to attack by 419 scammers?
Simon Benjamin am sorry for you. Its because of people like you why the country is in the state it is.
Rowley like he reading Wired 868! Well done Lasana ?
Lasana Liburd but I didn’t know that uncle Rowley is following our stories eh, so that he can buss the files eh, keep up the great work that you are doing eh. Them really good yes
But doh hut up alyuh heads nah uncle Rowdy will soon have more flies to buss on the corrupted sports minister, the bussing not start . Them really good yes.
I was made to understand that Central FC have it’s own board of directors that is separate from SIS and they should have had their own bank account and treasurer settings the sports minister and his advisor just tried a thing and taught that nobody would have missed that small cash. Them really good yes
The man have to qualify for the Party
Look Rowley bussing de mark on TV now yes
According to the mighty shadow Brent Sancho have a thieving face
You are taking the Guardian’s word over mine Eko Watts? That is your second mistake.
That story is laughable just from the headline. I just have to shake my head at the misinformation that people are sometimes fed.
Even if he was central FC CEO, the money should not have gone to his personal account. It is only worsened by the fact that he was sport minister and, ostensibly, not related to club in anyway.
He was neither part owner or shareholder. So how was it even an option to send money to his account?
So nobody in SIS has a U.S. bank account?
In thought this article, with its telling juxtaposition of claim and fact, was brilliantly crafted until I got to the last paragraph. It is a commonplace of good, responsible journalism that you do NOT report rumours. Why would the best practising journalist in the country completely ignore such a basic tenet?
it is called…. “blending in”. you either shape up.. or ship out!! if yuh not corrupt, yuh wouldn’t stay dey… if yuh stay dey… yuh Kurrupt!!
Only robbers with out mask in this PP government……lock him up together with his leader
Only robbers with out mask in this PP government……lock him up together with his leader
http://indepth.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-02-27/central-fc%E2%80%99s-co-owner-now-minister%E2%80%99s-adviser
Name a uncurrupt government that past through this country Wayne Leacock
That is precisely what is wrong with us in T & T, this oh we can do it too, syndrome. This gov’t came into power on the premise that they would be pillars of virtue. Five years later? But say what to each his/her own.
And your point is?
Yuh damn right, boi… Nutten rong wid corruption, ent?
*You friggin idiot. -_-
Mr Simon take it easy…..if you are saying that every Gov’t we had was corrupted then all citizens have become contaminated with corruption by now! That is why racial politics is so clear in the eyes of the blind in our country! God have mercy on us all!
Lord help you. You really need help.
And we will keep kicking them out till they get the message Simon not adopt that asinine stance you are taking
i question your timing?, EEF that! we doh care if elections are days away OUT THEM
It’s only a corrupted person will join the UNC at this time, sanco is a fraud looking for his food.
FIRE
To me it was a poor managerial decision to put it in the minister’s personal account in the first place. Especially since Sancho and Harrison had enough time to transfer the funds, and furthermore it looks more fishy since the funds were only made known of when questions were asked. What if no one asked about the funds?
Tim Kee drink something…yuh inside 🙂
Oh gosh nah…..JW all over again…..“Central didn’t have a US bank account at the time,” said Harrison. “When we filled out all the application forms, the only US account we had access to was Brent’s own. So we put that down for ease of use.
Burd, I questioning yuh timing 🙂
Dude …what are you talking about?
Oh please. Don’t let them get to you Brent keep focus
Yes Kendall, was just discussing this situation and had a look at the form again…
There are 2 sex tapes with Sancho and the female footballers which will emerge also…….
I await in eager anticipation.
Knew this was going to come out and it explains the breakdown of the relationship with the English coach who was conned.
Savitri – the beneficiary bank is Wells Fargo. That means the account to which the funds were transferred is in the US.
For those who see ‘no wrongdoing’ in this scenario, let me ask you this: why is it that it appeared that Central FC was blissfully unaware of the funds that had been sent for them until they had to ask Sancho and Harrison if any had been received? That alone is extremely fishy.
SInce CONCACAF didn’t just ups-and-decide to pay it to Sancho, who provided CONCACAF with the relevant bank details to effect the payment? IT would have to be someone with authority or recognised as having authority at Central FC.
As a the account of a private citizen (as in not a prominent businessman), and a government minister no less, would not the fact that US $40,000 being deposited directly there by a foreign entity have not raised flags for both the recipient and the financial institution involved?
When the “mistake ” was realised, was it not incumbent on the wrongful recipient, especially as a government minister and senator and as proposed electoral candidate, to follow the proper procedure for such a snafu, which would be to return the money to the sender for the sender to then issue payment to the proper recipient, thereby preserving a proper chain of accounting for the payment?
All in all, this reflects very poorly on Messrs. San-ko and Harrison.
You all could bring what you all want about the ministers of this government am gonna vote for them if some of you all was living under a rock before 2010 i wasn’t
Hear this clown
IGNORANCE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. BIG FAIL!!
Simon, you started living under a rock after 2010.
hahahahahaha^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That’s your choice
Jackass!!!!!!!
Smoking something too Simon?
I want to hear how he explaining this. Isn’t it a conflict of interest in dispersing the funds to the relevant persons? Cause in doing so he is assuming a managerial role of the said club he claims he has distance himself from due to a conflict of interest
He may not be the owner of the club, but common sense should have prevailed. The owners do not have a US account?
Lasana, have you contacted anyone at Central about this?
Uncle Earl, check and double check and triple check your info eh.
Kendall, the wire transfer form stated Scotiabank (as per the pic), it doesn’t say which branch.
De man fittin’ right in wid dis gang….
Wwwhhhaaattt
Lol. Really? Sigh,
Eko Watts, Sancho was not a part owner at Central. I tried to be clear on that.
He start already
E tu, Brent?
It had to be expenses Lasana, small money for commission..he too chupid yes
Excellent Lasana keep on shining a light into the darkness.
At the end of the day God will get the last say. Don’t think for a moment that he got away.
not many local organisations—let alone pro league clubs— have the depth on the pitch, far less in their boardrooms that they can loose their two main decision-makers and not suffer somehow.
I am prepared to give Sancho the benefit of the doubt—IF he makes a prompt statement on the issue that sufficiently addresses the chronology of the events that lead to this