FIFA bribery probe shut down after Warner walks away

JACK WARNER, the man at the centre of the FIFA bribery scandal, yesterday resigned from all his positions in international football saying he had been “hung out to dry”.

Warner, the longest-serving member of FIFA’s executive committee, had been suspended pending the outcome of a bribery inquiry.

FIFA said the ethics committee procedures against him “have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained”.

Warner was also president of the CONCACAF federation of countries from the Caribbean and North and Central America until he was reported to FIFA by CONCACAF’s general secretary Chuck Blazer.

He added: “I have lost my enthusiasm to continue. The general secretary that I had employed, who worked with me for 21 years, with the assistance of elements of FIFA has sought to undermine me in ways that are unimaginable

“This is giving the impression that FIFA is sanitising itself. I’ve been hung out to dry continually and I’m not prepared to take that.”

FIFA released a statement yesterday which read: “Jack A Warner has informed FIFA about his resignation from his posts in international football.

“FIFA regrets the turn of events that have led to Mr Warner’s decision...

“Mr Warner is leaving FIFA by his own volition after nearly 30 years of service, having chosen to focus on his important work on behalf of the people and government of Trinidad & Tobago as a cabinet minister and as the chairman of the United National Congress, the major party in his country’s coalition government.

“As a consequence of Mr Warner’s self-determined resignation, all ethics committee procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained.”

Warner and fellow FIFA member Mohamed Bin Hammam were suspended last month after they were accused of giving or offering bribes of $40,000 to the 25 members of the Caribbean Football Union.

The total sum involved was $1m according to a report to the FIFA ethics committee.

A source close to Warner said he had taken his decision “for the good of the game” but refused to comment when asked if the 68-year-old had jumped before he was pushed.

Damian Collins, the British MP who has been campaigning for FIFA reforms, condemned the decision to drop the investigation into Warner.

He said: “This just shows FIFA can’t be trusted to do it by themselves. The whole investigation has been a complete farce.”