Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner says a section within the football governing body is intent on destroying his legacy and wants to destabilise the sport in the Caribbean region.Warner, whose resignation was made public on Monday, was provisionally suspended on May 29 by the FIFA Ethics Committee, after Concacaf executive committee member, American Chuck Blazer made allegations he (Warner) violated FIFA's Code of Ethics during a meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain in May with Qatar's Mohamed bin Hammam.Warner maintained his innocence in a two-page statement yesterday, saying: "I expect that these vicious attacks will continue, however, I will once again reiterate for the sake of those with hidden agendas, I, Jack Warner did not partake in the distribution of any cash gifts to my members."
His statement was in response to the circulation of a leaked 17-page report purporting to be the FIFA Ethics Committee's decision into the bribery allegations.Several international media reported the document stated there was "compelling" evidence Warner and bin Hammam conspired to pay $40,000 cash bribes to Caribbean officials in the lead up to FIFA's presidential election.The Associated Press (AP) said the report stated the former FIFA vice-president was an accessory to bribery who offered "mere self-serving declarations" at a hearing last month.The report was first leaked by Britain's Press Association.Warner's statement, however, said the purported decision document dated June 17 was not released by FIFA nor was its circulation authorised by FIFA.
Warner, T&T's 68-year old Works and Transport Minister said: "As far as I have been able to establish, the FIFA Ethics Committee report which is being scurrilously circulated summarises the considerations on which the FIFA Ethics Committee decided on suspensions and a full hearing involving the subjects of the allegations of bid-rigging."It is instructive to note that the investigation into these allegations is still ongoing and therefore any suggestion that the report being circulated is the final conclusion of the FIFA Ethics Committee is both misleading and false," he said.
According to the AP on-line article by Graham Dunbar, a panel headed by Namibian judge Petrus Damaseb found "comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming evidence" Warner arranged the Port-of-Spain meeting specifically to enable corruption.The panel also found it was "impossible" for one to think Warner was unaware of the alleged payments.After Warner's resignation from all internationals positions, all procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained.His statement added: "It is now evident that there are those in a section of the FIFA fraternity who, in the face of FIFA's stated position and its voluntary recognition of my contribution to world football and by definition to FIFA, will stop at no length to destroy my legacy and destabilise the Caribbean region whose interests I have always vigorously advocated."