Jakarta Globe, Agence France-Presse, April 23, 2013
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| Former FIFA vice president Warner resigned as Trinidad and Tobago\'s national security minister on Sunday, two days after an investigation accused him of \"fraudulent\" management of the Concacaf soccer confederation. (Reuters Photo/Andrea De Silva) |
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Sydney.
Football Federation Australia demanded answers on Tuesday after a $462,000
donation it made to a Caribbean soccer organization was allegedly stolen by
disgraced former FIFA kingpin Jack Warner.
The
incident was detailed in a damning integrity report by the Caribbean, North and
Central American international football body, Concacaf, that accuses Warner of
enriching himself through fraud.
The report
compiled by several former judges into the financial management of Concacaf
relates to when Warner, a former vice-president of FIFA who quit in 2011 after
being accused of paying bribes, headed the organization.
It said FFA
paid a check into a Caribbean bank account maintained by Concacaf in 2010 to
help the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation improve a center of
excellence.
The
donation was part of Australia’s attempt to demonstrate its international
football credentials during its failed bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
But the
account was allegedly controlled by Warner who pocketed the money and never
declared it to Concacaf, the report said.
“The
committee concluded that Warner committed fraud and misappropriated funds that
were sent by Football Federation Australia to Concacaf for development of the
COE,” the integrity report said. “[He] breached his fiduciary duties to
Concacaf through fraud and misappropriation of funds.”
Warner, who
stepped down as Concacaf president in 2011, denies any wrongdoing but resigned
as Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of security over the weekend.
Media in
Australia said the donation raised questions about the FFA’s decision to give
lucrative grants to football organizations headed by influential FIFA officials
previously accused of corruption.
But an FFA
spokesman told AFP the cash was donated with “complete transparency” and
Australian football authorities only became aware it had allegedly been misused
when the Concacaf report came out on Friday.
“FFA is
currently considering the findings of the Concacaf Integrity Committee report,”
said the FFA’s chief spokesman. “FFA has assisted Concacaf in this
investigation and yesterday wrote to Concacaf regarding next steps.”
He said the
funding “related to the mandatory FIFA World Cup bidding criteria.”
“FFA was
required to demonstrate its credentials in the area of international
development,” he said, adding that all funding was reported to the Australian
government.
Despite a
$45 million grant from the government and intense lobbying, Australia managed
to secure just one vote when the FIFA executive committee decided the 2022
hosts.
Qatar was
controversially awarded the hosting rights.
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