Warner and Blazer accused of being "fraudulent" by CONCACAF report

By Duncan Mackay

April 19 - Former FIFA Executive Committee Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer members were both "fraudulent in their management" of Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), it was claimed today.

The allegation was made by CONCACAF's Integrity Committee following an investigation into the affairs of Warner and Blazer, formerly the organisation's two highest-ranking officials.

Sir David Simmons, head of the Integrity Committee, laid out the extent of the allegations at CONCACAF's Congress in Panama City after analysing documents and interviewing 38 people, although neither Warner or Blazer cooperated.

"I have recounted a sad and sorry tale in the life of CONCACAF, a tale of abuse of position and power, by persons who assisted in bringing the organisation to profitability but who enriched themselves at the expense of their very own organizations," said Sir David, the former Chief Justice of Barbados.

Delegates responded angrily to the report with one describing 70-year-old Warner, now the Minister of National Security in the Trinidad and Tobago Government, and American Blazer as "white collar thieves".

The report alleged Warner, the former President of CONCACAF, did not disclose that the $25.9 million (£17.1 million/€19.8 million) Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence was built on land owned by his companies.

"Approximately $26 million of CONCACAF funds went into the Centre of Excellence and that is no longer an asset of CONCACAF," said Sir David.

"Warner represented to FIFA that funds would be used to support development but never told FIFA that Centre would be situated on land owned by his companies.

"There is no evidence that Warner or anyone else ever disclosed to the CONCACAF Executive Committee or Congress that lands on which the Centre was built was owned by his companies."

Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence Port of Spain

Jack Warner built the Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence in Port-of-Spain on land owned by his companies

CONCACAF is looking at legal options regarding the Centre but Warner released a statement dismissing the report's conclusions.

"I left CONCACAF and turned my back on football two years ago," he said.

"Since then I have had no interest in any football related matter.

"CONCACAF's report today is of no concern to me and as far as I am aware it is baseless and malicious.

"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."

Sir David claimed Blazer, who is due stands down from FIFA's ruling Executive Committee on May 30 when he will be replaced by newly-elected compatriot Sunil Gulati, received more than $20 million (£13 million/€15 million) in compensation from CONCACAF, including $17 million (£11 million/€13 million) in commission while he was general secretary.

He alleged that the 67-year-old Blazer worked without a contract from July 18, 1998, and his compensation was discussed only three times in CONCACAF forums during 21 years.

The report also found "no business reason" for the renting of apartments used by Blazer in Manhattan and said the American had also tried to buy property in the Bahamas, in 2007, for about $4 million (£2.5 million/€3 million) using football funds.

Blazer was described by Sir David as "entirely negligent" for failing to file income tax returns for CONCACAF in the United States which led to the body losing its tax-exempt status as a non-profit organisation.

Concluding his report, Simmons said the auditors used by CONCACAF during the Warner era, Trinidad-based Kenny Rampersad and Company, were not independent and cited documented proof that Warner and Blazer were clients of the firm.

Warner resigned all his football-related roles in 2011 and avoided having to appear before a FIFA Ethics Commission inquiry relating to bribery allegations surrounding the body's Presidential election while Blazer resigned as general secretary in December that year.

The Integrity Committee was not asked to look into the details of the "cash for votes" affair, which saw Warner allegedly help FIFA Presidential candidate Mohammed bin Hammam distribute gifts of $40,000 (£26,000/€31,000) to Caribbean voters, that led to the row between Warner and Blazer and their subsequent departures.

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