A defiant National Security Minister Jack Warner last night dismissed the findings of a Concacaf probe into his former tenure in the organisation yesterday, saying it was baseless and malicious.However, even in the face of Warner's stance, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she was stunned by the contents of the report and if the allegations prove true, she would make a decision on Warner's status in her Cabinet.
In a press release last evening, Warner said he had not had time to read the full report which detailed the allegations against him, and which was presented by Sir David Simmons at a Concacaf congress in Panama yesterday.The report found Warner did not disclose to Concacaf, which represents soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, or world governing body Fifa that the US$25.9 million Centre of Excellence in Macoya was built on land owned by his companies.
However, noting he had turned his back on football two years ago and has had no interest in any football-related matter since then, Warner said: "Concacaf's report today is of no concern to me and as far as I am aware it is baseless and malicious."Concacaf lawyers have been in communication for several months with my lawyers who have instructions in this matter," he said."I am advised that the matter is a contractual matter for which my lawyers are dealing with. separate and apart from any Concacaf-organised committee."
Dealing specifically about allegations that the Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence was owned by him and not Concacaf, Warner said: "It does seem ironical that Concacaf had been paying rent for a property all these years which, according to them, belonged to Concacaf. In addition, it is also alarming that Fifa would invest in a property that is neither owned by them, Concacaf, or the local football body in clear violation of their statutes, inclusive of goal statutes and regulations."
Warner noted that although Simmons interviewed 38 people, he did not speak to Havelange (former president of Fifa) himself. He said he was sure Havelange "would have been able to enlighten them.""Finally, if after 20 years of being the president of Concacaf all its committee could have found is some baseless claim against me involving the Centre of Excellence, then I will continue to sleep very soundly at nights," he said.
Speaking to CNC3 from last night from Washington, where she is on Government business, Persad-Bissessar admitted to being shocked by the report's revelations.She said the report told "a tale of a tragic scenario," adding if the allegations were true, "I have action to take."The PM said, however, she would like to see the report before making any final judgment."Natural justice demands that I see the report first," she said.
Click to downloadThe Confederation of North, Central American and CaribbeanAssociation Football (Concacaf) Integrity Committee report.