Warner, Blazer liable of 'gross impropriety'

[Karl]

CONCACAF report finds Warner, Blazer liable of 'gross impropriety'

Friday, April 19, 2013 | 2:17 PM

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2QwOsUesP

PANAMA CITY, Panama — A CONCACAF commissioned Integrity Committee has presented a damning report that has found former president Austin ‘Jack’ Warner and general secretary Chuck Blazer liable of “gross impropriety” amounting to millions of US dollars.

At Friday’s 38th CONCACAF Congress at the Westin Playa Bonita resort here, chair of the independent committee Sir David Simmons gave facts occasioned by an intense investigation that both men were found to have acted outside of their fiduciary responsibilities and best practices.




“I have just recounted the sad tale of CONCACAF of people who have enriched themselves and we can only hope that our report will help to shape the future of CVONCACAF,” Sir David said to a packed house, including FIFA president Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter.

In the case of Warner, who served as president of the sub-continental body for many years leading up to his resignation in the wake of the cash-for-vote scandal, was found to have reportedly improperly spent some US$26 million to develop the Joa Havelange Centre of Excellence in his native Trinidad and Tobago, plus millions more in supposed follow-up work and maintenance.

According to the results of the Ethics Committee probe, it was found that the Centre of Excellence was built on lands allegedly owned by Warner-run companies and there’s no evidence on the books that CONCACAF owns the property, while being led to believe it does until recently.

Warner is currently the Minister of Security in his native, Trinidad and Tobago.

Blazer, who also resigned as allegations swirled around his office as general secretary, was deemed to have rewarded himself with hefty pay-outs in “questionable deals” including using CONCACAF funds to purchase high-end apartments in New York and Florida for his personal use.

In addition to Sir David, who served as the 12th Chief Justice of Barbados from 2002 to 2010, the Integrity Committee is comprised of Judge Ricardo Urbina, a retired United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia; and Ernesto Hempe, a retired partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

CONCACAF announced the formation of the Integrity Committee following a meeting of its Executive Committee on September 13 in Mexico City. The Integrity Committee was presented with CONCACAF's Terms of Reference and was given oversight of all investigations pertaining to the previous administration in order to rectify and ensure clarity regarding all pending issues within the newly reformed Confederation.

— Sean Williams


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2QwOmLiUe

[Karl]

Jack Warner (football executive)

Jack Warner (football executive)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Wa...ball_executive)

[Karl]

Chuck Blazer

Chuck Blazer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Blazer

[Gamma]

And personal hero to some.

[Paul Marin]

And personal hero to some.

Now isn't that something. KMRT. It is ironic that in the audience sits Sepp Blatter, him pocket fresh with the stain of Russian rubles and Qatari riyals. The entire pack of them tief. Dyam tief.

[Karl]

When will the report become public?
...when and if it does, whoever receives it/finds it please post!

Thanks!

[Karl]

You sir, have been and continue to be consistent in your condemnation of our football administrators.

I do hope that Mr. Jeffrey Webb our current CONCACAF head and Mr. Derrick Gordon our CFU head perform in a manner that wins your approval.

[Karl]

CONCACAF's moves -

CONCACAF takes step in transparent governance

Sean Williams
Sunday, April 21, 2013

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Despite a sometimes dark past, CONCACAF is determined to forge ahead in building a stronger confederation driven in the main by the principles of transparency, accountability and development.


Its president Jeffrey Webb said the sub-continental body is at "a defining crossroads" as it meets his challenges head-on. "We must build on the pillars of transparency, ethics and development. Also, a real challenge is to unite our confederation and that must be one of our visions," said Webb as he addressed the 38th CONCACAF congress at the Westin Playa Bonita resort here on Friday.



(Front row from left) US Soccer President Sunil Gulati, JFF head Captain Horace Burrell, Honduras Football Federation boss Alfredo Hawit, and FIFA President Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter during the 38th CONCACAF Congress at the Westin Playa Bonita resort on Friday. (PHOTO: SEAN WILLIAMS)

Webb, who was propelled to the post of CONCACAF president following the resignation of long-serving Austin 'Jack' Warner in the heat of the cash-for-vote scandal, said another goal of his administration is to bring the World Cup back to the confederation.

"It is my vision that in 2026, we want the World Cup to come back to our confederation, and we want to win, not just to compete," he said.

At the congress, it was reported that CONCACAF is in "a very good financial position". They have reported a cash reserve in excess of US$30 million, and corporate sponsorship and TV rights deal totalling US$300 million.

"We have some great economic partners, maybe because we sent the message that we have restored the confederation... our partners have gone from giving US$93 million to US$300 million," Webb revealed.

The FIFA vice-president, who was elected unopposed for another term on the FIFA executive committee on Friday, said CONACAF is poised for greater things, and he invited the members to play their role in creating a bright future for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

"We are evolving, the transformation has begun... this is our time, we must protect the integrity of our game... we have a responsibility to those who have given so much," he said.

"Delegates utilise your rights, but with responsibility... take your place and help make football better," he urged.

At the congress, the CONCACAF welcomed four full new members to its 40-nation organisation. They are French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Martin/St Maarten.

Bonaire has been accepted as an associate member.

"This represents opportunity for full integration of culture in our region through our sport," Webb said in welcoming the new members.

Meanwhile, in the only balloting exercise at the ordinary session, president of US Soccer Sunil Gulati defeated his Mexican colleague Justino Campean 18-17 in an open vote for the North American seat on FIFA's Executive Committee.

Gulati, who was also running for the executive post for CONCACAF from the North America zone, withdrew his candidacy at the last minute, allowing for his counterpart, Canada's Victor Montagliani to be elected unopposed.

Also, Jamaica's Football Federation boss, Captain Horace Burrell, was elected unopposed as a vice-president of CONCACAF.

Burrell, who chairs CONCACAF's Finance Committee, along with other Jamaicans Leighton McKnight (Audit and Compliance Committee) and Horace Reid (Competitions Director) also made presentations to the congress.

The confederation also signed a number of memoranda of understanding, including one with the United Nations, joining the latter in its fight against HIV/AIDS.

The election results were as follows
FIFA

Vice-President (Caribbean Zone): Jeffrey Webb (Cayman Islands) won unopposed

Member (North American Zone): Sunil Gulati (USA) prevailed over Justino Compeán (Mexico)

Gulati, who is also president of the US Soccer Federation, has been a member of the CONCACAF Executive Committee since 2007.

CONCACAF

Vice-President (Central American Zone): Alfredo Hawit (Honduras) won unopposed

Vice-President (Caribbean Zone): Captain Horace Burrell (Jamaica) won unopposed

Member (Central American Zone): Eduardo Li (Costa Rica) won unopposed

Member (Caribbean Zone): Luis Hernandez (Cuba) won unopposed

Member (North American Zone): Victor Montagliani (Canada) won unopposed after Sunil Gulati stepped down from position, following his election to the FIFA Executive Committee




Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2R71ukpyj

[Karl]

Blazer, Warner accused of fraud

Blazer, Warner accused of fraud

Published: Sunday | April 21, 2013


Austin 'Jack' Warner



Chuck Blazer

1 2 >

PANAMA CITY (AP):
Luxury appartments, a military-style Hummer vehicle and even car insurance for a girlfriend. That's just part of the lifestyle that former CONCACAF secretary general Chuck Blazer allegedly enjoyed with the regional soccer organisation's money, a report by its ethics and integrity committee says.
Blazer also is accused of violating United States (US) and perhaps state and local laws by not having tax returns submitted for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF) from 2004-10, according to the report released Friday that accuses him and former CONCACAF president, Austin 'Jack' Warner, of enriching themselves through fraud.

CONCACAF and FIFA, soccer's world governing body, have not decided what steps to take. But the first political fallout from the report came swiftly.

Soon after the report was released, the leader of Trinidad & Tobago's main opposition party said he will seek Warner's resignation as the island's national security minister.

Opposition leader Keith Rowley said late Friday that he will present the issue for debate in Parliament next week.

"Mr Warner cannot continue to serve as a minister of government," Rowley said.

The 113-page report about the activities of Warner and Blazer was presented at the CONCACAF congress in Panama City, with FIFA President Sepp Blatter in attendance.

"Our information shows they committed fraud," committee member David Anthony Cathcart Simmons said.

The committee said it based its findings on documents and interviews with dozens of people.

Warner and Blazer have res-ponded to past accusations by denying any wrongdoing.

NO COOPERATION
CONCACAF appointed the investigative committee under the leadership of current president, Jeffrey Webb, in an effort to get beyond the scandals after Warner and Blazer quit. Simmons said the pair did not cooperate with the investigation.

The 70-year-old Warner resigned as CONCACAF president and his position on FIFA's executive committee in June 2011 after Blazer accused him and then-Asian confederation head Mohamed bin Hammam of attempting to bribe Caribbean delegates $40,000 each to vote for bin Hammam in the FIFA presidential election.

Blazer resigned as CONCACAF's secretary general in December 2011; his term on FIFA's executive committee runs until May 30.

Simmons accused Blazer of "misappropriating" at least $15 million by compensating himself with CONCACAF funds without authorisation after his last contract expired in July 1998. Simmons alleged that the 67-year-old Blazer, the most senior American official at FIFA for 16 years, also bought apartments with CONCACAF money and failed to have the organisation file its tax returns in the US, causing it to lose its non-profit organisation tax-exempt status. It said that from 2004-10, CONCACAF and/or its marketing company failed to file returns.

CONCACAF LOSES
"Blazer went out of his way to avoid engaging the IRS at any level at great expense to CONCACAF," the report said.

Blazer didn't respond to an email seeking comment after the report was released. In the past, he attributed money he received to commissions he says were due him for commercial contracts he negotiated.

Warner said late Friday that he had not read the report.
"As far as I am aware it is baseless and malicious," he said in a statement. "I left CONCACAF and turned my back on football two years ago. Since then I have had no interest in any football-related matter."

Regarding Warner, the committee said it found "fraud" in the management of a training centre built in 1995 to help players in the region train and improve their game, Simmons said.

"Warner represented to FIFA that funds would be used to support development but never told FIFA that the Centre (later named in honour of former FIFA president - the Joao Havelange Centre) would be situated on land owned by his companies," Simmons said.

One of the companies was named 'Renraw' - Warner spelled backwards.
Warner "deceived persons and organisations" into believing the facility was CONCACAF's and not his, he added. Almost $26 million was invested in that project between 1996-06, with a large portion of the funds donated by FIFA.

Australia's soccer federation provided $462,200 to upgrade a stadium at the Havelange centre around September 2010, according to the report.
"The funds, however, were not accounted for in the CONCACAF general ledger or reported as income in its financial statements for 2010," it added.

Instead, the report said the money was deposited into a "comingled" account that included Warner's personal money.

At the time, Australia was seeking votes in its bid to stage the 2022 World Cup.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports3.html

[Karl]

...so is CONCACAF going after the properties?

[Mosiah]

I would love to see your current views on Jack Warner.

Please and tanks!

[Karl]

Thankful for all he did for CFU...but particular Jamaica.
Without him we would never be where we are today in football - 1 World Cup, 3 (?) FIFA Age-Group Championships...and many players ply trade as professionals. Lives have been enhanced!!!

...his other activities I find upsetting.

Still think if full 'wash-out' occurs friend Blatter will find self in serious trouble...and as I have said before Chuck Blazer has more to fear from the IRS (US government) than CONCACAF or FIFA!!!

[Mosiah]

That's a weasel reaction if ever there was! His activities are a bit upsetting?!? Nothing some Andrews Salts can't fix, huh?!?

Of course Warner did something for CONCACAF, CFU, Jamaica and Agent 0001, but even Hitler did a tremendous lot for Germany, much more than inventing the People's Car. But imagine how much more he could have done if he didn't waste time waging silly wars!

It's the same with Warner!

And if we didn't have Warner, we would have some other person who could have done much, much more! Because there would be more cash to care!

[Karl]

Just a little suggestion - You should stop being a fan of Hitler!!!

[Paul Marin]

You sir, have been and continue to be consistent in your condemnation of our football administrators.

I do hope that Mr. Jeffrey Webb our current CONCACAF head and Mr. Derrick Gordon our CFU head perform in a manner that wins your approval.

No Karl - I have been consistent in condemning Warner, Blazer, Blaater and Platini and implying that those who support them should be similarly condemned. I would be happy to see Blatter and Platini ousted and fresh HONEST blood replace them. I have no reason to not trust Gordon and Webb and hope they do a great job. The fact that they are doing these investigations as transparently as they have been speaks well for them. I remain optimistic.