The FIFA Family

The issues surrounding Jack Warner's name being called in the latest FIFA scandal have different meanings for different micro groups and for the massive group of football fans around the world.

Jack Warner was fingered in a sting initiated by the Secretary General of CONCACAF, the American Chuck Blazer. In this sting, no law enforcement officers were involved. The findings were intended to manipulate FIFA executives and influence the outcome of elections on June 1 in Zurich. At the time the prime contenders for the post of FIFA president were the incumbent, the aging but not yet doddery Sepp Blatter, and Mohammad Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation. Bin Hammam, under pressure from the Emir of Qatar stepped down so the 2022 World Cup (in Qatar) would not be placed in jeopardy.

The allegations that made the front page of newspapers around the world revolved around packets of cash being handed out to officials of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) on May 11 at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

For us in Trinidad and Tobago the concerns are linked to Warner's role in government where he wields substantial power having been a financier of the ruling party and where he now serves as Minister of Works and Transport. When the government was formed one year ago the main question was whether Warner should continue to serve on FIFA's Executive Committee. The government sought legal opinion. No consideration was given to FIFA's image, that the organisation uses its ability to attract lucrative sponsorships and generate huge profits as the answer to all its critics. No consideration was given to Warner's own ability to court controversy. It was only a matter of time before the problem blew up in our faces. "Innocent until proven guilty" is not the issue here, there are too many questions to be answered and Warner has been dodging those questions while he releases tidbits of information about Sepp Blatter and Jerome Valcke.

Warner's advice to CFU countries to support Blatter for the presidency may well earn him a slap on the wrist and, politican that he is, he will walk back into the fold (family) as if nothing has happened. The ensuing chaos in CONCACAF is a clear indicaton that for all the money and big salaries floating around, these guys are pitiful. The hirings and firings since Warner's suspension show clearly that this is just another ball game, the football going from one end of the field to the other... football at its worst.

Football in the region is also in a sorry state. We send teams to the World Cup based on group qualification, but how much have we developed? Our football is stagnant. We play out the preliminary round at the World Cup, maybe get two teams in the round of 16 and the story ends there. The scenario is predictable. Mexico and USA and some other third rate CONCACAF team. We work up a storm here in the region. We go to Germany or South Africa.... or Russia and Qatar....and we come back with drooping shoulders. Mexico...imagine Mexico... just another passenger in the World Cup. Our regional teams can not compare in any way to the European teams but Warner wants to campaign for a fourth qualifier from the region. That is not improvement in the sport. That is showbiz and benefits for services rendered.

The success of football in CONCACAF countries is measured by the size of the stadium (Bahamas which facilitated the sting operation) or where the FIFA Congress is held, and who is a bigger friend of Sepp Blatter, not by the quality of our players, the organisation of our teams and a visible move up the ladder of world football. The Football Federation in Trinidad and Tobago is always broke but the CONCACAF President can dish out money he has earned from football to subsidise the Federation.

A government minister hosts Bin Hammam and CFU officials, and his (son's) travel agency earns the single biggest chunk of the money spent by the Qatari. This is what people read in their newspapers. The issue is not what the legal opinion said one year ago. The issue must involve foresight and create situations that will minimise these scandals. When the Prime Minister accepted a legal opinion and agreed Jack could continue as a FIFA vice president she should have expected something like this. I am a casual observer and I knew something would crop up to embarass this country, so how did this bunch of the brightest people in the land not know.

Prime Minister Kamla should know what truth there was in the statement made by former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday that Jack owes the UNC $5 million US, implying it was a donation from a slush fund. Will we ever know if it is the same slush fund from which Blatter made the donations to CONCACAF members?

There is clearly more to be exposed in the coming months, but while we continue to close our eyes to the real issues, the problems will mount... and the legal opinions we use to defend our every foolish move will serve us no good.