TTFF press release RE - Funds for Haiti

The TTFF acknowledges it is aware of funds made available by both FIFA and the Korean football federation for the football victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake in 2010.

However, we are unable to confirm the quantum of funds received, as these monies did not go into the account used by the TTFF administration for its day to day operations, but instead to the TTFF’s LOC. Account as was requested by Mr. Jack Warner, the former vice president of FIFA and special advisor to the TTFF

The current executive is unaware of how these funds were disbursed or utilised and is awaiting the promised audited accounts from Mr. Warner.

The TTFF realises the final responsibility for any account in its name lies with us, but confesses that it surrendered it's authority to Mr Warner, who has been for more than three decades a larger than life figure in national and international football and was a trusted agent and member of our organisation.

We never questioned his authority or actions and are now in a position of despair as we are starved of funds by FIFA until full disclosure, which we are unable to provide without Mr. Warner's input. Sadly Mr Warner seems disinclined to comply with our repeated requests.

The TTFF will continue trying to resolve these serious issues and asks for even greater tolerance from the football loving public.

We also will continue to run our domestic and national programmes, including our National Under 23 Olympic Team and Women's Under 17 team, with the support of our dedicated team of coaches, team managers, technical director, marketing and events unit and our sponsors, inclusive of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, most of whom have pledged continuing support for the sport.

RELATED NEWS

TTFF: Warner took Haiti aid money...TTFF breaks ranks with ex-FIFA VP
By  Lasana Liburd (wired868)

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) admitted culpability this morning for the Haiti financial aid scandal reported exclusively by the UK Sunday Times and confirmed by Wired868.com on 12 February 2012.

However, Minister of Works and Infrastructure and ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was fingered as the only person responsible for missing emergency aid money—estimated at $4.4 million (US$690,000)—that should have gone to the Federation of Haiti Football (FHF), two years ago.

In a sensational split that may signal a change of direction regarding its former special advisor, the TTFF admitted to allowing Warner authority over its LOC bank account that also held key financial transactions such as television rights, sponsorships and World Cup-related revenue.

Warner's inordinate power over the TTFF finances occured under the guidance of its former President Oliver Camps, who resigned in October while being investigated by FIFA for his role in a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) bribery scandal that also prompted Warner's exit from the global body and the expulsion of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed Bin Hammam.

"The TTFF acknowledges it is aware of funds made available by both FIFA and the Korean football federation for the football victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake in 2010," stated TTFF Press Officer Shaun Fuentes, in a release. "However, we are unable to confirm the quantum of funds received, as these monies did not go into the account used by the TTFF administration for its day to day operations, but instead to the TTFF's LOC Account as was requested by Mr. Jack Warner, the former vice president of FIFA and special advisor to the TTFF.

"The current executive is unaware of how these funds were disbursed or utilised and is awaiting the promised audited accounts from Mr. Warner."

The TTFF further stated, as became evident in a High Court bonus dispute between 13 World Cup 2006 players and the federation, that Warner is a law unto himself and refuses to account for his financial actions regarding money earmarked for the local game.

And, in this case, the United National Congress (UNC) chairman allegedly ignored requests for information on funds meant for Haiti after the earthquake that killed 316,000 persons including over 30 football officials.

The local football body confirmed too that FIFA has withheld from the TTFF its annual subvention of $1.6 million (US$250,000) as a result of the scandal.

"The TTFF realises the final responsibility for any account in its name lies with us," stated the release, "but confesses that it surrendered its authority to Mr Warner, who has been for more than three decades a larger than life figure in national and international football and was a trusted agent and member of our organisation.

"We never questioned his authority or actions and are now in a position of despair as we are starved of funds by FIFA until full disclosure, which we are unable to provide without Mr. Warner's input.

"Sadly Mr Warner seems disinclined to comply with our repeated requests."

South Korean businessman Chung Mong-Joon and FIFA sent $4.76 million (US$750,000) to Trinidad, on Warner's request, to be disbursed to the impoverished Caribbean island.

Mong-Joon, who is also a former FIFA vice president, donated $3.2 million (US$500,000) while FIFA wired $1.6 million (US$250,000).

"My friends have told me that they are hungry and in need of basic human supplies," Warner said on a visit to Haiti, two weeks after the disaster. "A tide of hungry humanity surrounds me. How can I not hear their cries for help?"

However, FHF President Yves Jean-Bart told the Sunday Times that only $381,000 (US$60,000) reached Haiti.

FIFA has since sanctioned the TTFF and blocked Warner's pension, which was reported to be as much as $230,000 (US$36,238) per year and payable until he turns 96-years-old.
Warner, in an interview with CTV, dismissed the article as a "foolish report" and hinted that the article was part of a conspiracy against him.

"I have nothing to answer to anybody," Warner told ctntworld.com. "Who wants to make allegations, make allegations. Ask yourselves, as objective members of the media, why now... And after you get why now, just join the dots and see."

The Chaguanas West MP suggested that he was insulated from the press.

"There is nothing anybody could say or do to make me look bad anymore," said Warner. "Everything that has been said about Jack Warner has been said. Everything that has been written has been written and I still continue to do the people's work.

"I have nothing to run from. You want to write your articles, write them."

It is not the first time that Warner was accused of trying to cash in on Haiti's plight.

Last year, former FA Chairman Lord David Triesman told a Parliamentary Select Committee into the governance of football that Warner asked the English football body, via an email, to purchase Haiti's 2010 World Cup television rights. Warner, according to Triesman, claimed the tv rights was bought for $1.6 million (US$250,000) but said he had "spoken to the owners and can get this figure reduced substantially."

Warner subsequently admitted, on 29 December 2011, that he received the Caribbean's television rights from FIFA at the price of just US$1 for over a decade.

Thus far, the TTFF has paid the price for Warner's alleged indiscretions.

On 8 February 2012, a court-appointed marshall, on behalf of the aggrieved World Cup players, raided the TTFF headquarters and seized all removable assets due to its failure to make an interim payment of $4.6 million (US$724,000) that was due to the "Soca Warriors" since October 2011.

Warner negotiated the bonus agreement with the Warriors on behalf of the TTFF. The TTFF subsequently alleged that the MP failed to account to the local body for over $180 million (US$28.2 million) in revenue

In the Port of Spain High Court on Tuesday, Justice Devindra Rampersad accused TTFF General Secretary Richard Groden of a "dereliction of duty" and warned that he may hold the body in contempt of court if it did not initiate strong legal action against Warner by Friday.

Justice Rampersad described Warner as "a renegade agent."

A TTFF insider suggested, on Sunday, that the body would soon respond to the Haitian aid scandal but, instead, silence reigned for four days until roughly 1.30 am this morning as the executive committee grappled with a bleak future.

The TTFF, on the cusp of "very serious consequences" from the High Court, now appears to have finally broken ranks with its former special advisor.