Warner's Caribbean rule

[Naminirt]

Warner's Caribbean rule

http://www.tnttimes.com/golive/

Written by Lasana Liburd Tuesday, 27 October 2009 00:00

FIFA vice president and CONCACAF and CFU president Jack Warner

FIFA fines, suspension and threats have been a regular part of life for Caribbean nations under the reign of Trinidad and Tobago administrator and former school teacher Austin Jack Warner, which started in 1990.The historic rise to the FIFA vice-presidency of the workaholic from humble beginnings promised much for a region that gave birth to gifted footballers like Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, John Barnes and the Trinidad and Tobago duo of Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy. However, Warner’s critics argue that he cares more about the trappings of power and retaining his seat than helping the islands while his staunch support for tainted football officials also rankled.


In the past four years alone, FIFA intervened in the affairs of six Caribbean nations based on Warner’s recommendation.
1) Antigua and Barbuda
Mervyn Richards, younger brother of former West Indies cricket legend Sir Viv Richards, brought Chet Greene’s era to an end in 2004 after widespread allegations of corruption against the CONCACAF employee and ABFA general secretary.
Unabashed, Greene returned with a claim for nearly $1 million in unpaid expenses. Richards insisted Greene had no documentary evidence to support his claim but Antigua were still suspended by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
“We have filed an appeal to CFU and have also written to FIFA to intervene on our behalf,” said Richards then, “but we haven’t gotten a response yet… So we just have to wait.
“The thing about it is (Jack Warner) is president of CFU and CONCACAF and vice-president of FIFA, so where can you go?”

Richards was replaced as ABFA president last year by Everton Gonsalves.
2) Barbados
Former Barbados Football Association (BFA) general secretary Randy Harris felt something was amiss when then president Ronald Jones, a member of CONCACAF’s Legal and Finance Group of Committees, won the September 2004 election and appealed to FIFA.

Barbados Football Association president Ronald Jones


Predictably, FIFA supported the stance of the Caribbean Football Union. So Harris took the issue to the Barbados High Court.
FIFA suspended Barbados, Harris relented and, to date, Jones remains the BFA’s president. 3) Dominica
Patrick Francis must have understood the need for vigilance when, in 2006, he replaced retired colonel and former Prime Minister Patrick John at the helm of the DFA. In 1981, John was jailed for 12 years after he teamed up with the Klu Klux Klan in a plot to overthrow the Dominican government and the Caribbean’s first female leader, Dame Eugene Charles.
Charles pardoned John in 1990 and, when he sought to depose Francis, he had Warner’s considerable support. FIFA initially supported Dominica but Warner won when it mattered.
John is the DFA’s present president.
4) Grenada
Ashley Folkes was warned against continuing investigations against GFA general secretary and CONCACAF match commissioner Victor Daniel but he just would not listen.
After four visits from a FIFA “fact finding” mission headed by Warner’s lawyer John Collins, Folkes was eventually removed on October 1, 2009. Paul Roberts, Daniel’s ally and a challenger in Grenada’s 2008 election, told the TnT Times “I have no doubt that Folkes genuinely believes in football” but that was not enough.
Roberts explained that he gave Folkes an ultimatum: “Are you going to have an investigation into Mr Daniel or are you going to see about the development of our football?”
Grenada rose to their highest ever place in FIFA’s rankings during Folkes’ brief tenure but the former president offered the wrong answer to the first part of Roberts’ question.
5) Jamaica
Crenston Boxhill survived several threats from FIFA after replacing Captain Horace Burrell at the helm of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). Burrell, a close friend of Warner, wanted his post back and Boxhill could not stomach any more aggravation.
Boxhill: “The current administration has faced the most consistent effort of undermining (as opposed to) any previous administration and it does occupy my mind that if it is going to continue, how realistic it will be to build on the momentum, if at every step of the way one has to be looking over one’s shoulders.”
6) St Kitts and Nevis
Peter Jenkins has occupied the seat of president since 1994 and could boast of being present, four years earlier, when Jack Warner first sought the support of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in his bid to become CONCACAF president.

But Jenkins’ decision to challenge Warner at CFU level over Antigua’s suspension followed by his ill-fated bid to replace JFF president Captain Horace Burrell on the CONCACAF executive ultimately cost him his football career.
“I sleep well at night knowing I did the right thing,” Jenkins told the TnT Times.

[HL]

Folks who achieve success--almost always have other folks looking to 'shoot them down'.

Jack "the ripper" Warner has done more positives for football in the caribbean than anyone else.

There are people who 'think' they can do the job of a Burrell or Warner.

Boxhill comes to mind. ..................>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Naminirt]

Really so why he has so much oppositon ? Ahhh boy HL don't fall for it .. btw our WC players have not been paid yet btw.....

[Karl]

Really so why he has so much oppositon ? Ahhh boy HL don't fall for it .. btw our WC players have not been paid yet btw.....

Leaders always have opponents!
...and it is fact "Jack" has done more for the CFU than any one who went before.

Naminart would you please list the football development projects before "Jack" came and undertaken since "Jack's" arrival on the scene?
Thank you!

[Naminirt]

Leaders always have opponents!
...and it is fact "Jack" has done more for the CFU than any one who went before.

Naminart would you please list the football development projects before "Jack" came and undertaken since "Jack's" arrival on the scene?
Thank you!

what projects is that ? a few goal and coaching seminars? Karl boy i see the blanket is pulled over your eyes ..... yeah he contribute his bank account.....fuh sure

[HL]

Naminirt: I recalled Jack 'the ripper' withdrew his services to T&T football.

Things went down hill fast. He was literally begged to return to save the day.

Jack deserves all the fringe benefits his extremely hard work brings.

This man is hard at work while most of his critics sleep away their lives!!

[Naminirt]

Naminirt: I recalled Jack 'the ripper' withdrew his services to T&T football.

Things went down hill fast. He was literally begged to return to save the day.

Jack deserves all the fringe benefits his extremely hard work brings.

This man is hard at work while most of his critics sleep away their lives!!

HL yuh missing the point jack Warner put himself in a position of POWER .. he owns our football .... he has such a strangle on our federation ....btw he did not withdraw any service all that was just a show ....

[Naminirt]

The the man warner HLand karl luv aye i wish you all could have taken him

Liburd: W/ Cup bonus-gate blow-by-blow.
By Lasana Liburd (www.tnttimes.com).

Applicants: Shaka Hislop, Kelvin Jack, Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Ian Cox, Avery John, Brent Sancho, Chris Birchall, Aurtis Whitley, Collin Samuel, Evans Wise, Anthony Wolfe, Cornell Glen, Kenwyne Jones and Stern John.
Respondents: Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and Oliver Camps

November 9, 2005
Shaka Hislop, Brent Sancho and Kelvin Jack represent the “Soca Warriors” in a meeting with FIFA Vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) Special Adviser Jack Warner and TTFF General Secretary Richard Groden to discuss financial rewards should the team qualify for the Germany 2006 World Cup.
On the advice of Dwight Yorke’s British agency SFX, the players request a 30 percent share of all commercial revenue for World Cup qualification and a share in the FIFA payments. Warner and Groden agree to the proposal.

November 16, 2005
Trinidad and Tobago qualify for the 2006 World Cup after a 1-0 triumph over Bahrain in Manama.

January 8, 2006
Hislop, Jack, Sancho and Stern John meet with Warner, Groden, National Team Manager Bruce Aanansen and the TTFF’s “UK liaison” Mike Berry at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, London in an effort to quell unrest within the squad. At this stage, the players are yet to receive any financial reward for their World Cup qualification.
It is agreed that Hislop and Aanansen will meet the following day to continue discussions for both parties.

January 9, 2006
Hislop and Aanansen meet at the Hilton Hotel in Dartford Bridge and agree on a formula to share the FIFA payout—subject to verification of provided figures—for their World Cup qualification and match fees for warm-up matches and World Cup games.
Warner claims FIFA payout of $38 million (6 million Swiss francs) is subject to 21 percent “withholding tax” ($8 million) by German authorities and a further five percent insurance deduction ($2 million).
Hislop is subsequently sent “proof of payment” from the TTFF which he claimed was “a flow diagram showing the claimed FIFA payment and the supposed deductions”. Hislop accepts this as proof so players are paid their qualification money.

January 29, 2006
After a written request by Trinidad and Tobago journalist Lasana Liburd, FIFA reiterate that the TTFF will get $43 million (7 million Swiss francs) and not $38 million (6 million Swiss francs) for World Cup qualification. FIFA and the German Organising Committee both deny that the money is subject to tax.

February 16, 2006
FIFA find Warner guilty of violating its Code of Ethics for diverting Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup tickets through his family-owned travel company, Simpaul Travel Service. He is the first recorded violator of FIFA’s ethics.

February 17, 2006
Warner, who could have been expelled, is spared further punishment by FIFA after he takes his name and those of his family members off the list of Simpaul Travel’s directors.

March 30, 2006
Players and TTFF meet in Manchester and sign World Cup participation contracts.
Hislop requests promised spreadsheet outlining all commercial contracts and is assured by Aanansen and Berry that it would be provided soon.

April 4, 2006
Camps registers the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation as a private limited company at the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

June 6, 2006
Hislop emails Warner, on behalf of the football team, and again requests spreadsheet with commercial contracts.

June 7, 2006
Warner responds by email and tells Hislop that “what you are asking of me is not ready and will not be until I return to Trinidad at the end of this event”.

June 10, 2006
Trinidad and Tobago kick off their 2006 World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Sweden at Dortmund.

June 12, 2006
Warner agrees to meet players at their hotel but is late and only Jack is in the lobby when he arrives. Warner tells the goalkeeper that the spreadsheet will be available soon and he is so proud of the team that he has increased their share of commercial revenues from 30 to 50 percent.
Warner meets Hislop on his way out of the hotel and repeats his decision to increase the players’ share to 50 percent.

June 2006
Warriors are promised $1 million each from the Trinidad and Tobago Government—$750,000 in units from the Unit Trust Corporation and $250,000 in cash.

August 31, 2006
The “Soca Warriors” players and Coach Leo Beenhakker receive Chaconia Gold medals—the second highest national award.

October 5, 2006
On the eve of a friendly against St Vincent—the first home international since the World Cup—the TTFF declares a 2006 World Cup income of $18.2 million and, after deductions, reduces the players’ share from $9 million to $141,102, which translates into $5,644 per player.
Team captain Dwight Yorke announces in a media conference that the World Cup players reject the TTFF’s calculations and would retire since contracts with the Federation are “not worth the paper they are printed on”. Yorke is flanked by Dennis Lawrence, David Atiba Charles, Avery John, Chris Birchall, Carlos Edwards, Colin Samuel, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Jason Scotland, Cornell Glen and Sancho.
In a TTFF release, Groden calls the players’ position “delinquent” and “confrontational”. The Warriors take the field and defeat St Vincent 5-0 and, two days later, beat Panama 2-1.

October 23, 2006
Michael Townley, a London-based solicitor hired by 17 World Cup players, formally requests that FIFA arbitrate the bonus dispute between the players and the Federation. FIFA declines. Yorke, who announced his international retirement, and Russell Latapy decide against pursuing legal action against the TTFF as do four of Berry’s clients, Edwards, Scotland, Lawrence and Ince.
(The TTFF later “revise” their calculations and come up with a net profit of $950,403.49—which, they claim, waived investment in the South Africa 2010 campaign—and offer half of this figure or $475,201.75, equal to $19,008.07 per player. This is also refused by the Warriors.)

November 15, 2006
The Warriors lose 4-1 away to Austria and the TTFF immediately suspends players who have retained Townley. The TTFF claims that it is “actively contemplating a swifter than originally envisaged consideration of incorporating the rising brood of players from our Professional League, Under-20 and even Under-17 squads to form the nucleus of our team for 2010”.
Densill Theobald, who had initially stood with the dissidents, decides against taking legal action, which leaves Townley with 16 of a possible 23 players as his clients.

April 27, 2007
TTFF overlooks 16 Warriors from CONCACAF Gold Cup squad on the grounds that their proposed legal action might lead to Trinidad and Tobago being expelled by FIFA. Townley insists that nothing is preventing selection of the players.

May 31, 2007
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who initially refused to have FIFA arbitrate the Warriors’ case against the TTFF, announces an amendment to the FIFA statutes that obliges associations “to insert a clause in their statutes or regulations stipulating that disputes affecting the football family may not be taken to ordinary courts of law”.



June 14, 2007
Weakened Warriors are one of just four teams eliminated in Gold Cup’s first round. Via a media release, Warner congratulates the TTTFF on “the principled stand you guys have taken in resisting being blackmailed into doing what could never have been right for your country and/or your Federation by bending to the will of a mercenary few”.

August 28, 2007
Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones, who is poised to join Premiership club Sunderland from Southampton, claims that TTFF president, Camps, has refused to write a letter to UK Home Office explaining that the TTFF ‘blacklist’ had denied the player the chance of acquiring the necessary international caps to meet their requirements. Camps says he does not know what Jones is talking about.

August 29, 2007
Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones joins Sunderland in $75.7 million move after intervention and letter from FPATT president and former Premiership goalkeeper, Hislop.

September 3, 2007
Two days after he became a Sunderland player, the TTFF offers letter on Jones’ behalf.
Camps: “When the club representative contacted me I told him that once it had to do with any of the players who are involved in a legal battle with the TTFF that I would need to get advice from our legal advisers.
“We agreed to do the letter… but when I contacted the club, the representative didn’t refuse the letter but said it was no longer needed. At no time would we try to prevent a player from making a move as it pertains to his club career.”

September 14, 2007
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Trinidad and Tobago Government reveals that the TTFF had received $173,690,113.50—and not $18.2 million as claimed by the football body—from the public and private sector.
The figure excludes gate receipts from World Cup qualifying and friendly matches and broadcast rights, including television revenue from games against Iceland, Peru, Wales, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
TTFF lawyer Om Lalla says they are “strangers to that document”.

September 15, 2007
The TTFF requests that the financial dispute with the players go to arbitration rather than to the Trinidad and Tobago High Court.

September 21, 2007
The TTFF lifts blacklist against aggrieved World Cup players. The players cease local court action and agree instead to arbitration before the London-based Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP).

March 2008
Players receive money promised by the TTFF for charity in the form of CONCACAF cheques drawn on a Florida account. Camps and Warner, the CONCACAF president, claim to be unable to explain why CONCACAF was meeting the TTFF’s financial obligation and whether World Cup money had ended up in CONCACAF’s coffers.

April 28, 2008
SDRP chairman, Ian Mill, QC, begins hearings into bonus dispute. The players have filed against the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA)—the body mandated to run the local game by the government—and its president Oliver Camps.

May 19, 2008
SDRP chairman, Ian Mill QC, rules that the players are entitled to 50 percent of all World Cup revenue as well as half the money that Warner claimed was withheld by FIFA and the German Organising Committee for tax. Mills orders the TTFA to expeditiously permit sufficient inspection of its records by the players and declare any agreement that might arguably be considered commercial revenue.
The judgment was made on May 12 but not released until May 19 because of the TTFF’s non-payment of arbitration fees. These were eventually paid by the players’ representatives.
Warner did not make himself available for cross-examination and the TTFA offered no reason for his absence.

May 20, 2008
Trinidad Guardian publishes exclusive report by journalist Francis Joseph that gives details of arbitration decision.

May 21, 2008
Townley requests interim payment of $44 million from TTFF based on World Cup income revealed by the government.
However, the TTFF subsequently files a block on judgement in Trinidad and Tobago courts on the grounds that the Guardian report violated the SDRP’s confidentiality clause and, in their opinion, rendered the judgement null and void.
Townley and the players deny that they were the party who leaked the arbitration decision to the Guardian and further argue it should not invalidate judgement in any case.

November 17, 2008
Warner offers new settlement of $186,000 per player to World Cup players, more than 30 times the first offer but, according to the government’s figures, less than one tenth of their worth.
Townley describes the offer as “not sufficiently generous” but Yorke, Latapy, Edwards, Scotland, Lawrence, Ince and Theobald accept. The TTFF claims that unemployed Scotland-based defender Marvin Andrews also breaks ranks to accept although Townley insists he has no proof of this.

November 19, 2008
The TTFF applies for bonus dispute to be brought before local courts on January 7, 2009.

January 7, 2009
Both parties agree to a six-month adjournment of case and inform the Trinidad and Tobago High Court of their agreement.

June 2009
Another adjournment is agreed by both lawyers.

August 28, 2009
The Clerk of the House of Representatives informs the public that the TTFF wishes to repeal the 1982 Act, which incorporated the TTFA by an act of Parliament.

September 18 & 23, 2009
Townley urges Clerk of the House, via letter, not to allow TTFF name change and requests opportunity for players to address Parliament.

October 2009
Justice Devant Rampersad will rule on TTFA’s request to have bonus dispute re-opened in local court.

[HL]

Last Word:

If you want to see the end of football in T&T...TRY and get rid of Jack 'the ripper'.

[HL]

Breaking my word:

There is a chronological list--10X greater than the one you posted... on the positive achievements of Mr Warner.

[Naminirt]

We will survive with out Warner trust me HL... well post some of his achievements nuh HL....

[Peter R]

HL and Karl,

Maninirt talking truth... unuh stay deh; ask yourselves how you go from being a school teacher to a MULTIMILLIONAIRE in a matter of a few years? Jack is NOT a fool; however when he goes on and on about bankrolling this and that he is TOTALLY disingenuous; plus he has the TTFF and the rest of the Carinbbean by the short and woolies... unuh stay feel say Jack a de greates' since slice bread... you tell me what he has done; aside from organizing the islands into forming their federations fully being aware that FIFA ascribes to one country one vote (which is UNDEMOCRATIC in my view btwe.g. Montserrat has the same weight as Brazil) he has made himself a local Lord by virtue of controlling about 30 odd votes that are critical to voting in the dominion of FIFA (that corrupted regime into which he fits so well.)

and believe me, I am most confident in what I'm talking about. one example: which INDIVIDUAL owns the TV rights to all CFU games and how much did he pay FIFA for it? and how much does a TV station have to pay said individual to televise matches? fact is anything more than $2 and said individual has doubled his money.


Footnote: I'm not saying Jack does not have football at heart; but he has made enough money now that he can pretend to be magnanimous; don't for a minute feel Jack aint looking out for #1.

[Karl]

what projects is that ? a few goal and coaching seminars? Karl boy i see the blanket is pulled over your eyes ..... yeah he contribute his bank account.....fuh sure

It was Jack who moved our referees forward through CFU, CONCACAF and to the World Cup! Sure he started with Downer, Sirguesingh and other Trini refs when there were much better refs in Jamaica, but I understood his reasoning. I did not agree but I understood.

The big boys kept us out and Jack raised the roof to get us in.

Jack also turned his attention to moving CFU officials on to CONCACAF and FIFA committee.

...btw - before all that Jack fought for, as he encouraged and cajoled the Caribbean nations to come on board as FIFA members. Sure it also was a part of shoring up a platform (of votes) to launch his bid to move on the CONCACAF boys. ...and it worked. ...but he then explained what the use of those votes could mean and organised the CFU boys to win the CONCACAF president's post and VP of FIFA post.

Naminirt too many of the 'hurry come-up' CFU administrators fail to remember or to take a look at the history on how we were treated by CONCACAF and FIFA before Jack" organised "his" block of CFU votes. That Jack has also benefited is fact. ...but if we do not stand together then we shall return to the dark old days.

You have forgotten it was just 10 or so years that the European boys tried to get rid of all of us, starting with "Jack". They were so sure they had the votes lined up behind them that they went public with the intention of getting rid of our referees and administrators on the premise that we were 'backwater' and knew nothing about the game.

Jack put his votes together and with Burrell and others help squashed that...

It is a direct result of fear of/respect for "Jack's voting block" why all the CFU nations have had the amount of FIFA money invested in the various projects across the Caribbean and the retention of places on FIFA's high powered committees.

I hope the CFU administrators understand the dymanics at work in FIFA and how Jack uses his power...so when Jack leaves we still retain the influence he created.

Re: "Jack's acquired wealth
The amount of money being thrown around within FIFA makes it difficult for any official not to benefit....tremendously.

It is remarkable that every person against Jack puts forward as their strong point, "he has gotten rich"...nothing on the benefits their country and countrymen have reaped? It is all about, "mi poor, why im suh rich'?

Nonsense position!

If the cry was do more for our football and the laying out of sensible programs for the various countries FAs such that greater development of our football occurs then there would be something to debate.

Jack or any other man on the planet becoming rich is neither here nor there to me as long as that man does an excellent job for and on behalf of my people.

Anyone who has knowledge of where the CFU was on FIFA's totem pole 'before Jack' and looks at where we are today will marvel at how far we have come in such a short time and would be thinking of where we can be in a few more years.

How do we more rapidly move forward using Jack's favoured position and the team he has imbedded in FIFA should be where we are focused! It appears to me that for selfish reasons there are people out there determined to dismantle what Jack built for us.

Trust me if there are any who think if they will overthrow Jack and set up 'crabs in a barrel' actions in CFU to then reap any 'real rewards', they had better for get it.

Mexico and the USA will again rule...and the rest of the CFU will be just a 'salt sucking' squabbling bunch.

Leave Jack where he is. Support and push him to do even more for the CFU nations. ...and as sure as night follows day anyone who follows Jack's model of retaining power (through doing for the CFU)...will succeed and will become rich.

I see FIFA making more and more money and the sums being thrown around getting larger and larger. The guy following Jack if he lasts as long as Jack will make Jack's money look like 'monkey money'.

[Karl]

HL and Karl,

Maninirt talking truth... unuh stay deh; ask yourselves how you go from being a school teacher to a MULTIMILLIONAIRE in a matter of a few years? Jack is NOT a fool; however when he goes on and on about bankrolling this and that he is TOTALLY disingenuous; plus he has the TTFF and the rest of the Carinbbean by the short and woolies... unuh stay feel say Jack a de greates' since slice bread... you tell me what he has done; aside from organizing the islands into forming their federations fully being aware that FIFA ascribes to one country one vote (which is UNDEMOCRATIC in my view btwe.g. Montserrat has the same weight as Brazil) he has made himself a local Lord by virtue of controlling about 30 odd votes that are critical to voting in the dominion of FIFA (that corrupted regime into which he fits so well.)

and believe me, I am most confident in what I'm talking about. one example: which INDIVIDUAL owns the TV rights to all CFU games and how much did he pay FIFA for it? and how much does a TV station have to pay said individual to televise matches? fact is anything more than $2 and said individual has doubled his money.


Footnote: I'm not saying Jack does not have football at heart; but he has made enough money now that he can pretend to be magnanimous; don't for a minute feel Jack aint looking out for #1.

I have never disputed Jack has made tremendous money out of his associations with FIFA...I am saying before Jack we were less than dirt in FIFAs eyes.

It cannot be disputed what has been gained by the CFU countries as a result of Jack's work. The matter of any fight the TTFA or its players have with Jack is another matter.

It is for those within the TTFA to make good on the contracts with the players. it cannot be Jack only at fault. It would be like having a conflict with a legal entity and suing one individual only.

Who did the players take to court? Jack?
I think not!

[HL]

Karl has posted a comprehensive overview of what Mr. Warner is all about. You are PR should read it at least twice before posting again!

It's gentlemen like Mr. Warner and Mr. Burrell who I try to emulate as role models.

The caribbean need lots more men like these.