FIFA ban for Caribbean official Klass

FIFA’s ethics committee today handed out their fourth ban connected with the bribery scandal by suspending leading Caribbean official Colin Klass for 26 months.

Klass, a member of the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) executive committee and head of the Guyana FA for 22 years, was also fined 5,000 Swiss francs (€4,000).

FIFA said in a statement that Klass “was found to have breached various articles of the FIFA code of ethics (articles 3, 9 and 14) following an investigation related to the special meeting of the CFU held in Trinidad & Tobago on 10 and 11 May 2011.”

After the meeting, which led to Mohamed Bin Hammam being given a life ban for bribery, Klass orchestrated a campaign of support for Jack Warner who resigned as FIFA vice-president in June after himself being charged with bribery.

According to a witness statement, Klass was seen emerging from the boardroom where envelopes containing $40,000 were being handed out to Caribbean associations and was "giggling slightly".

Klass later denied to investigators having received any cash gifts but it is understood the brown envelope for the Guyana FA had been distributed.

The report by investigators from ex-FBI director Louis Freeh’s company quotes evidence from Bahamas vice-president Fred Lunn, who took a photo of the cash he was given before returning it on the afternoon of May 10, stating that Klass went into the room when the money was being given.

The report states: “Outside the boardroom, Mr Lunn encountered Lionel Haven (a former Bahamas FA board member) and Colin Klass.

“According to Mr Lunn, Mr Klass stated: ’Why is this door locked, are there people getting bribed around here?’ The male (CFU official) then allowed Mr Klass to enter the boardroom, which he exited after a few minutes. Mr Lunn noticed that Mr Klass had a smile on his face and was slightly giggling.”

A further 15 Caribbean officials under investigation are awaiting hearing dates.

Bin Hammam was last month banned for life on charges of giving or offering bribes and is taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.