Dominica FA files ethics complaint against Warner

[Naminirt]

Dominica FA files ethics complaint against Warner

By Mark Ledsom

BERNE, Switzerland, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Dominica football association has appealed to FIFA's ethics committee over what it calls "the appalling conduct and flagrant abuse of power" by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.

The association said on Thursday that Warner had arrived in the country on Wednesday and told officials he would recommend the removal of the association's executive committee within seven days and its replacement by a "normalization committee."



The association's media release gave no information on possible reasons for the actions taken by Warner, who is also president of the CONCACAF region of FIFA.

FIFA said it could not confirm the claims made in the media release.

"All we can say today is that we have received a correspondence from the football association and that we are looking into it," a spokesman added.

FIFA has frequently suspended national associations or insisted on the removal of officials, often as a result of alleged interference by national governments.

The Dominica FA insisted though that Warner had made a "unilateral decision."

The statement added: "Mr Warner's actions are totally unacceptable as they are unquestionably illegal, being contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Football Assocation as well as to statutes of CONCACAF and FIFA.

"The DFA has requested that the Independent FIFA Ethics Committee headed by Lord Sebastian Coe launch an urgent investigation into the unwarranted and unconstitutional interference by Mr Warner in the internal affairs of the national association."

FIFA's executive committee expressed "disapproval" with Warner in Dec. 2006 over a scandal involving the resale of World Cup tickets by a former travel company of Warner's run by his son Daryan.

No further action was taken though after FIFA's disciplinary committee said there was "no concrete evidence" that Warner had known about the sales. (Editing by Justin Palmer)

[Karl]

Why and how did Jack arrive at the decision that it was best to remove the FA's Executive?

The FA's filings has merely said it does not want to be removed...
...Is the FA also claiming it does not know why Jack is recommending its removal? ...or, is it that it does not want to address that matter?

mmmm?
Wonder what was said in those filings?

Wonder why Jack wants the Executive (Is this what this is about? ...or, are there matters the FA should have dealt with that either was not handled or if handled, was handled improperly?) removed?

[Peter R]

Antigua & Barbuda Football Assoc. have also filed some sort of complaint against Jack.

In a somewhat connected story, Wim Rijsbergen, T & T ex-coach (just fired) is also threatening to sue the TTFF. Jack has defied hime to do so.

pr

[Peter R]

See articles

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index...s?id=161265552

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index...s?id=161265074

[Karl]

Antigua & Barbuda Football Assoc. have also filed some sort of complaint against Jack.

In a somewhat connected story, Wim Rijsbergen, T & T ex-coach (just fired) is also threatening to sue the TTFF. Jack has defied hime to do so.

pr

Looks like Jack has lost his manner of finesse...and, is now operating like a 'bull in a china tea-shop'!

[Karl]

See articles

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index...s?id=161265552

WARNER ON WARPATH

Dominica FA file ethics complaint against FIFA vice-president


Lasana Liburd

Friday, January 18th 2008

FIFA vice-president and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Jack Warner may have to give more answers about his rule in the region as Antigua and Barbuda seek assistance from the global body in overturning another threat from the Trinidad and Tobago administrator.


The Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) had until yesterday evening to hand over $1,124,130 (US$177,000) to their former general secretary and CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA official Chet Greene or face suspension "from all activities under the aegis of the Caribbean Football Union".


The proposed CFU suspension would effectively end Antiguan hopes of participating in the 2010 South African World Cup qualifying campaign.


Mervyn Richards, president of the ABFA and younger brother of West Indies cricket legend Viv Richards, insisted that Greene's claims were "false and illegitimate" and the tiny island, thus far, has refused the CFU ultimatum.
"We have filed an appeal to CFU and have also written to FIFA to intervene on our behalf," Richards told the Express, "but we haven't gotten a response yet. So we just have to wait."



The ABFA opted against an appeal to CONCACAF.
"The thing about it is (Warner) is president of CFU and CONCACAF and vice-president of FIFA," said Richards, "so where can you go?"
Warner was referred to the FIFA Ethics Committee by the Dominican FA yesterday for his allegedly "appalling conduct and flagrant abuse of power" in attempting to change their executive committee.


It may be the sixth occasion within the past two and a half years that the Chaguanas West MP is forced to respond to claims about his integrity within the FIFA hallways.
In 2006, Warner was found guilty of violating the FIFA Code of Ethics after an exclusive Express report proved that he diverted his country's 2006 World Cup ticket allotment into his family business where they were sold for huge profits.


Greene's record within Antiguan football bears stains as well.


In 2003, FIFA auditors declared that the ABFA--with Greene as general secretary--abused a US$1 million grant to the island. The money was never recovered and, even as FIFA threatened Antigua with suspension, Warner praised Greene for his work which was "nothing short of exemplary" and described the ABFA "a model for the rest of the region".


Within a year, Greene was kicked out of the ABFA by a group led by Richards, who is also a former national football player and coach and, at present, the Director of Sport in Antigua.


At the time, Greene was the best paid administrator in the history of Antiguan football with a monthly salary of $25,404 (US$4,000) plus a further allowance of $3,175 (US$500). His contract was due to expire in 2007 and he demanded to be paid in full, while he also threw in an array of expenses.


The present ABFA general secretary, Gordon Derrick, earns $10,784 a month.


Richards countered that no audited reports were presented by the ABFA during his tenure while even Greene's appointment and contract was supposedly done in secret.
"The irony is that he was also commissioner of sport at the time, which is a government post," said Richards. "How could he hold two full-time jobs at the same time?"


FIFA must soon decide on the legitimacy of Greene's claims, which are supported by Warner's CFU.



http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index...s?id=161265074

Not a cent

Warner draws battle lines against Rijsbergen


Kern De Freitas

Thursday, January 17th 2008

BATTLE MODE: Jack Warner

"Take him on! Take him on fully. Whatever the cost. Take him on."


This is special advisor Jack Warner's recommendation to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) in reaction to impending legal action against the local body by suspended national football coach Wim Rijsbergen.


Warner was in battle mode yesterday, as he criticised Dutchman Rijsbergen for his retaliation after being suspended from duty with the national senior team last month.


"The TTFF does not owe him a nickel, does not owe him a single nickel," Warner told TV6 yesterday. "And if he pushes us too much, he will owe us for lack of service," the FIFA vice-president warned.


Rijsbergen, when contacted by the Express yesterday, refused to comment on the issue.



"I have nothing to say on the matter," the former Dutch defender stated bluntly.


The 55-year-old Rijsbergen was reportedly suspended for six months after a scrap with T&TFF technical director, former national goalkeeper Lincoln "Tiger" Phillips late last year. But Warner is promising a battle if Rijsbergen does take the matter to court.


"He has popped up from out of nowhere to threaten. Rijsbergen has never spoken to us since December 4 when he left he country. I advise the TTFF to take him on, and take him on at the highest possible level. Mr Rijsbergen would not come here and abuse our officers and try as much to antagonise our officers and get away with it scotch free," the Chaguanas West MP declared.


Warner added: "He has one-or-two people here [in T&T], advising him, I have no problem with that. Let him take us to court."


Warner said the T&TFF had no intention of backing down from their position, describing them as being "on firm ground, as it has been over the years".


He also referred to another incident in 2005, when Rijsbergen, then assistant national coach, was involved in a disagreement that almost turned physical, with former team scout and national captain David Nakhid, when T&T had traveled to Panama for a World Cup qualifier.


"We should have listened to Nakhid [then]," Warner reflected, "but then again, we were not as smart then as we have been since."

Peter R: Thank you!