Bin Hammam and Warner suspended by FIFA

FIFA has provisionally suspended executive committee members Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner after Sunday's meeting of its ethics committee.



Football's governing body will now begin a full investigation into allegations that bribes were offered to members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).



CFU officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester have also been suspended.



But FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who was accused of not reporting the evidence when it was brought to his attention, was found to have no case to answer.



Petrus Damaseb, deputy chairman of the ethics committee, said of Bin Hammam and Warner: "We are satisfied that there is a case to be answered."



However, FIFA insists that they are innocent until proven guilty.



If found guilty, the pair could be expelled from the organisation and banned from all football activity.



Bin Hammam due to oppose Blatter in the forthcoming election for the FIFA presidency but he withdrew in the early hours of Sunday morning in the wake of the allegations.



FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke confirmed that Wednesday's election would go ahead unless three-quarters of the 208 delegates voted to change the agenda.



"I am not FIFA, I can't change the agenda," Valcke said. "It is up to the delegates - they have the final say."



"I don't see what is wrong with this election with Mr Sepp Blatter.



"I think the most important thing is a commitment from all the members of the FIFA ExCo with the president to support a change within FIFA and in his last mandate make sure that FIFA is stronger and cleaner than it was.



"Maybe we can have the top guys around the world come to put things in place to stop these things from happening again."



The Qatari and his colleague, FIFA vice-president Warner, were forced to answer charges of bribery following allegations made by executive committee member Chuck Blazer in Zurich on Sunday.



It was alleged that they offered bribes at a meeting of the CFU on 10 and 11 May.



A file of evidence claimed cash payments of up to $40,000 were handed over to members of the CFU at the meeting in Trinidad.



The payments were allegedly made to secure votes for Bin Hammam in his bid to become FIFA president.



After the meeting, Blatter said in a statement: "The FIFA ethics committee has reached its decisions.



"I do not wish to comment in detail. But simply to say that I regret what has happened in the last few days and weeks.



"FIFA's image has suffered a great deal as a result, much to the disappointment of FIFA itself and all football fans."



Warner said he was shocked and surprised by the decision to suspend him.



"I will vigorously defend my reputation as well as the reputation of the rest of the Caribbean members," he said.



"I denied the allegations that I made statements at the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) meeting about gifts being given by Mr Bin Hammam. I also indicated that at the Miami CONCACAF Congress on May 3 Mr Blatter made a gift of one million USD to CONCACAF to spend as it deems fit."



He added: "This annoyed (UEFA) President Michel Platini who was present and he approached Secretary General Jerome Valcke complaining that Mr Blatter had no permission from the Finance Committee to make this gift to which Jerome replied that he will find the money for Mr Blatter.



"I also indicated at the CFU meeting held in Trinidad on May 10 which was requested by Mr Bin Hammam, FIFA through Mr Blatter organised gifts of laptops and projectors to all members of the Caribbean and no objections have been made today of this to date."



Bin Hammam also expressed his unhappiness with the verdict.



"I'm very disappointed about the way the status of the proceeding has been presented at the media conference," he said. "This is not how I understand fair play. I'm reserving all my rights."



Asked if the latest developments marked a nadir for FIFA, Valcke replied: "The reputation of FIFA? Maybe it's not at the highest, that's clear. It's sad.



"Definitely, there is a need for change. I'm not the FIFA president so he is the one who must decide what he wants to do and FIFA must make the necessary changes so that the institution has systems in place to avoid something like this happening again.



"This is the pattern of the work which we have to do very quickly in the next few months."




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Bin Hammam and Warner investigated by FIFA

FIFA have opened an investigation into the conduct of four officials – including vice-president Jack Warner and presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam – in relation to bribery allegations.



The claims were made by executive committee member Chuck Blazer, general secretary of the CONCACAF federation, allege that violations were committed under the FIFA code of ethics during a meeting organised by Bin Hammam and Warner concerning the forthcoming FIFA presidential election.



Bin Hammam is the president of the Asian Football Confederation and is challenging Sepp Blatter to be the new president of FIFA in next month's elections.



A FIFA statement read: "On 24 May, 2011, FIFA executive committee member and Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer reported to Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke possible violations of the FIFA code of ethics allegedly committed by officials.



"In particular, the report referred to a special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), apparently organised jointly by FIFA vice-president Jack A. Warner and FIFA executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam, which took place on 10-11 May 2011. This meeting was linked to the upcoming FIFA presidential election.



"In view of the facts alleged in this report, which include bribery allegations, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, in compliance with art. 16 of the FIFA code of ethics, yesterday requested the FIFA ethics committee open ethics proceedings."



Bin Hammam and Warner, along with CFU officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, have been invited to attend a hearing in Zurich on Sunday.



The chairman of the ethics committee, Claudio Sulser, will not oversee the proceedings because he shares Swiss nationality with Blatter, and this could be construed as a conflict of interests. The meeting will be chaired by the committee's deputy chairman Petrus Damaseb of Namibia.



The new investigation is separate to the inquiry launched earlier this month by FIFA into claims made in parliament regarding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups last year.



The former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman alleged during a culture, media and sport select committee hearing that he had witnessed "improper and unethical" behaviour by four ExCo members – including Warner – during his time as England's 2018 World Cup bid chairman.



The charges against Bin Hammam throw his candidacy in to doubt, and there could also be implications for Qatar's 2022 World Cup.



The allegations against Warner, a long-term ally of Blatter, and considered the kingmaker in the presidential election with his control of the 40 CONCACAF votes, could signal the end of his influence within football's governing body.



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Bin Hammam and Warner respond to FIFA claims

FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam and vice president Jack Warner , who have been accused of bribery allegations, have denied any wrongdoing.



Bin Hammam has responded to allegations that he offered bribes for votes, suggesting the claim is "little more than a tactic" being used by Sepp Blatter, his opponent in next week's FIFA presidential election.



Warner told The Daily Telegraph that he “was unaware of any wrongdoing on my part”.



Bin Hammam and Warner will appear before FIFA's ethics committee on Sunday where they will answer to charges made by fellow executive committee member Chuck Blazer are proved.



Bin Hammam said in a statement: "This has been a difficult and painful day for me today. But, if there is even the slightest justice in the world, these allegations will vanish in the wind.



"This move is little more than a tactic being used by those who have no confidence in their own ability to emerge successfully from the FIFA presidential election."



Blazer, the general secretary of the CONCACAF federation of which Warner is president, has claimed that there were violations of FIFA's code of ethics during a meeting organised by Bin Hammam and Warner for Caribbean Football Union associations in the Bahamas. Two CFU officials, Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, have also been charged.



Bin Hammam added: "I remain deeply indebted to Mr Warner for his sense of fair play because without his support and understanding I would not have been able to meet with several important member associations of FIFA to discuss my election manifesto.



"Here I completely deny any allegations of wrongdoing either intentionally or unknowingly while I was in the Caribbean. I will speak to Mr Warner on this subject and offer him my full support in ensuring we are discharged honourably by the FIFA Ethics Committee, a body which I hold in the highest esteem.



"I am confident that there is no charge to answer and that I will be free to stand in the FIFA presidential election on 1 June as originally planned."



Interesting timing

Warner hinted that the charges were linked to the presidential election, in which Blatter is standing for a fourth term against Bin Hammam.



“I take note of the initiative by FIFA'S Ethics Committee and confirm that I have been invited to attend a hearing this week Sunday, May 29, 2011 in Zurich,” Warner said.



“I am unaware of the particulars of the matter being investigated by FIFA at this time, so I will therefore abstain from any comment until such time as I have been made aware of all that has been submitted to FIFA.



“It is informative to note that the CONCACAF, at its Congress in Miami on May 3, was informed of Bin Hamman being unable to get a US Visa to attend and that, as an alternative, he will like to meet the delegates in Trinidad on May 10.



“What I can say at this time is that I am not aware of any wrongdoing on my part and I shall listen to allegations made and respond accordingly.



“It is interesting to note the timing of these allegations and the hearing scheduled days before the FIFA Presidential elections.



“As this is now a formal procedure, I shall not be offering any further comment prior to the hearing on Sunday.”




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