Candidates for new CFU president

[Socapro]

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Swords-crossed---J-cans-Burrell--James-to-run-for-CFU-president_9779409

Swords crossed - J'cans Burrell, James to run for CFU president
BY SANJAY MYERS Observer staff reporter myerss@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, September 24, 2011

Former Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Tony James has officially announced his intention to challenge for the top spot at the November 20 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) elections.
 
His decision, after being endorsed by the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Turks & Caicos Islands, means that he will go up against current JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell, among other CFU nominees at the elections, which are slated to take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on November 20.

James, who is a longstanding member of the FIFA Youth Committee, told the Observer yesterday that his focus is to bring back a "sense of unity" within the CFU, which has been rocked by bribery allegations and other charges of ethical malpractices.
 
"For sure, I'll be running at the elections. I spoke to the Captain (on Thursday) and out of that we agreed to disagree on certain things. I assured him that as far as two Jamaicans being in the race that we will run a class campaign. I want to bring back a sense of unity (and) a sense of re-organisation. We need to make sure that, as much as we can, everyone can feel a part of the union. The Caribbean is not just Jamaica," said the Manchester-based businessman.
 
Speaking to the media on Thursday during the final day the FIFA Women's Football Development Symposium held at Sabina Park, Burrell, who is currently acting president of CFU, declared his resolve to contest the elections.
 
"I am vying for office and at this point in time and I will continue to speak to colleagues around the region and hopefully by the 21st (November) I will have more to say," he said.
 
James threw darts at the leadership of football in Jamaica and Trinidad.
 
"Our campaign recognises that there is a need for change in leadership style. Right now that style is best manifested in our two flagships in the Caribbean — Trinidad and Jamaica. People have to understand that it has to be changed.
 
"I am speaking about the way they handle their federations, the way they handle elections, the way they handle transparency and the way they handle embracing those who don't share their views. We have to be big enough in politics to agree to disagree and we have to move forward in unity," said James, who served as JFF president between 1985 and 1992.
 
In recent months, the world football governing body has been thrown into a tailspin following bribery allegations kick-started by FIFA Committee member and CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer, against then FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF head honcho Austin 'Jack' Warner and ousted Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam.
 
After investigations both have been banned by FIFA's ethics committee.

[Socapro]

Oral Tracey gives his views on some of the candidates from a Jamaican perspective:
http://www.televisionjamaica.com/Programmes/SportsCommentary.aspx/Videos/12646

[Flex]

SWO members who want to follow the run in to the November 20 CFU election...

http://www.televisionjamaica.com/Programmes/EyeOnSports.aspx/Videos/12984

[president]

The CFU has now "self-decapitated". President Warner, and Vice-presidents Klass and Burrell have all fallen victim to this debacle. Remarkable. Now the CFU office will return to Miami, from which Burrell had recently removed it to Kingston - after Chuck Blazer had removed it from Port of Spain in the wake of Warner's resignation. The Caribbean and the CFU ain't looking good, and I hope the region does not revert to its previous status as the backwater of global football.

[royal]

The CFU has now "self-decapitated". President Warner, and Vice-presidents Klass and Burrell have all fallen victim to this debacle. Remarkable. Now the CFU office will return to Miami, from which Burrell had recently removed it to Kingston - after Chuck Blazer had removed it from Port of Spain in the wake of Warner's resignation. The Caribbean and the CFU ain't looking good, and I hope the region does not revert to its previous status as the backwater of global football.

why will the CFU office be in the US

[president]

That's the $40,000 question...

[reggae-fan]

I'm surprised that Burrell came away from this with only a 6 month ban...not a big deal I say, Horace Reid, his general secretary will assume leadership of the JFF until his ban is served. Hmm, so now the CFU presidency is a two-man race? Interesting how the mighty have fallen, but i hope all the folks here who have been wishing to see the back of Jack Warner (Rightly so perhaps) now realise that with him, and to a lesser extent Horace Burrell no longer holding office in CFU/CONCACAF/FIFA that football in the region will be all the worst for it....You see all those FIFA tournaments T&T have been hosting over the years....that wont come so easy anymore.  Expect within 5 years for Costa Rica to be given automatic berth to the GOLD Cup along with USA Mexico Canada, and one less team from the caribbean going through

[Tallman]

Taylor urges CFU to convene Congress
Jamaica Observer

Efforts are being made to convene an Extraordinary Congress of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) later this month in Jamaica.

The CFU has been thrown into a state of turmoil, following the resignations and suspensions of several high-profile members as part of the fallout from the cash-for-votes bribery scandal that erupted last May.

Harold Taylor, a former general secretary of the CFU for close to two decades, and one of the leading candidates to replace compatriot Jack Warner as president, circulated a letter to member associations urging them to convene the Congress in Jamaica.

Taylor contended that the appointment of President of the Haitian Football Federation Yves Jean Bart as acting president of the CFU was null, void and of no effect in that it was not done in accordance with the Constitution.

"The purported postponement of the November 20, 2011, Extraordinary Congress in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is null, void and of no effect because the truncated Executive Committee lacked the ability to legitimately postpone the Extraordinary Congress for want of a quorum," told members in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by the CMC Sports Wire.

"The validity of the decision to hold the Extraordinary Congress on September 8, 2011 can be upheld," he said.

"Accordingly, the Extraordinary Congress called for November 20 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, can and should proceed as determined."

Taylor said the issue of finance to cover the cost of staging the Congress was moot, after a sponsor has agreed to fund the meeting. He did not disclose from where the funding was coming.

"As for the issue of financing the cost of the Extraordinary Congress, you will recall it was the initial position that the Union would cover the cost of accommodation and meals and members would pay their own airfare," he said.

"However, the Secretariat later advised that FIFA, on Captain Horace Burrell's request, agreed to cover the full costs including airfare."

Taylor said: "Based on the leadership paralysis that has affected the CFU, if the offer from FIFA has been withdrawn, we can revert to the initial arrangement.

"A sponsor has been sourced to cover the cost of hotel accommodation and related expenses in Jamaica. Members would only have to pay the cost of their individual airfare, as was the initial and normal arrangement."

Taylor closed by asking members for a firm commitment to holding the Extraordinary Congress as planned.

[jai john]

Taylor urges CFU to convene Congress
Jamaica Observer

Efforts are being made to convene an Extraordinary Congress of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) later this month in Jamaica.

The CFU has been thrown into a state of turmoil, following the resignations and suspensions of several high-profile members as part of the fallout from the cash-for-votes bribery scandal that erupted last May.

Harold Taylor, a former general secretary of the CFU for close to two decades, and one of the leading candidates to replace compatriot Jack Warner as president, circulated a letter to member associations urging them to convene the Congress in Jamaica.

Taylor contended that the appointment of President of the Haitian Football Federation Yves Jean Bart as acting president of the CFU was null, void and of no effect in that it was not done in accordance with the Constitution.

"The purported postponement of the November 20, 2011, Extraordinary Congress in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is null, void and of no effect because the truncated Executive Committee lacked the ability to legitimately postpone the Extraordinary Congress for want of a quorum," told members in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by the CMC Sports Wire.

"The validity of the decision to hold the Extraordinary Congress on September 8, 2011 can be upheld," he said.

"Accordingly, the Extraordinary Congress called for November 20 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, can and should proceed as determined."

Taylor said the issue of finance to cover the cost of staging the Congress was moot, after a sponsor has agreed to fund the meeting. He did not disclose from where the funding was coming.

"As for the issue of financing the cost of the Extraordinary Congress, you will recall it was the initial position that the Union would cover the cost of accommodation and meals and members would pay their own airfare," he said.

"However, the Secretariat later advised that FIFA, on Captain Horace Burrell's request, agreed to cover the full costs including airfare."

Taylor said: "Based on the leadership paralysis that has affected the CFU, if the offer from FIFA has been withdrawn, we can revert to the initial arrangement.

"A sponsor has been sourced to cover the cost of hotel accommodation and related expenses in Jamaica. Members would only have to pay the cost of their individual airfare, as was the initial and normal arrangement."

Taylor closed by asking members for a firm commitment to holding the Extraordinary Congress as planned.

as a famous person once said and it is true in this case as well ...changing one for the other  is just changing twiddle dum for twiddfle dee !
They were together at the teachers union ...Tacarigua football ( Tarouca) , then they moved over to the TFA ..then one went Concacaf and the other CFU ..the monopolistic approach is now expected to continue if taylor follows Warner ...dem fellas so tight they even starting to look like one another ...check out de foto of taylor in today's express ...

[president]

So you seen through the smoke Jai. Good! Electing Taylor is keeping the old order intact. There is now another candidate in the CFU race - Luis Hernandez, president of the Cuban federation (AFC). This is a straight-up guy...and experienced. he played international football for Cuba for many years and has experience of the CFU jungle. He is a formidable candidate as he has the support of the non-English associations but also commands respect among the English language countries.

[Flex]

CFU elections on hold
T&T Newsday Reports.

THE CARIBBEAN Football Union (CFU) elections, which was carded to take place on November 20 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, have been delayed until further notice, due to apparent financial problems afflicted with the organisation.

Veteran Trinidad and Tobago football administrator Harold Taylor was seeking to take up the post of president, which was vacated by long-standing boss Jack Austin Warner in May, in the midst of allegations involving FIFA presidential candidate Mohammed Bin Hammam.

Taylor, in a brief interview, disclosed that he was notified of the postponement before leaving for Jamaica.

The ex-CFU general secretary added that he received news that members of the CFU are planning a meeting with FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter in Zurich, Switzerland (headquarters of FIFA) next month.

If the meeting with Blatter eventually materialises, then the CFU Extraordinary Congress may be held in January.

Taylor, Anthony James of Jamaica and Derrick Gordon of Antigua/Barbuda were vying for the presidential post before the CFU four-member executive decided to iron out pressing matters with Blatter.

One of the matters is the appointment of Yves Jean Bart of Haiti as the acting president, as Jamaica’s Horace Burrell, who was Warner’s deputy and temporary successor, was slapped with a six-month ban from all football-related activities by FIFA on October 14 (three months of the ban was suspended, subject to a probationary period of two years). In similar circumstances to Burrell, Gordon, on November 18, got a reprimand and a fine after being found guilty of an apparent violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics connected to the investigation of cases following the CFU meeting at the Hyatt.

CFU is the nominal governing body for Caribbean football, representing 25 FIFA member nations as well as five territories not affiliated to FIFA (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin and Sint Maarten).

[royal]

Caribbean Football Union Looks to Establish Order at FIFA  

ZURICH, Switzerland (defend.ht) – The President of the Federation of Haitian Football (FHF), Yves Jean-Bart, chaired a two day normalization meeting of the Presidents of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The meeting took place in Zurich, Switzerland and is to herald a new start to the regional league.

The Normalization Committee will act as the Executive Committee until a new on is appointed sometime during the first 6 months of 2012. The committee representatives originated from Haiti, Cuba, Grenada, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Curacao and Jamaica.

In the next 90 days Yves Jean-Bart will chair an on-going congress to approve new statutes for the CFU and appoint an interim General Secretary, as well as a legal, finance and football committee. Chairman Jean-Bart said he was “proud to have been part of such a historical achievement and expects that the decisions taken at the Zurich meetings will result in a brighter and better CFU”.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, who invited the CFU representatives to FIFA, said: “I am very pleased that the representatives of the CFU have reached an agreement in order to move forward and to look into the future, for the good of the game in the region.”

On December 7th, Angenie Kanhai resigned as General Secretary of the CFU saying she faced “emotional, psychological and physical” pressure. Kanhai helped FIFA investigate a cash-for-votes scandal that led to sixteen CFU officials to be sanctioned for their roles in the infamous Trinidad and Tobago meeting.

Kanhai, from Trinidad, made her announcement in an official letter to members of the CFU:

"I regret to have taken this decision at a time such as now, a period of upheaval and change, but I was forced to face, like all of you, the emotional, psychological and physical toll paid over the last months…"

"As a result, I have made the decision to allow the opportunity and space for fresh eyes and minds, unsullied and unencumbered by the pressures of the past months to guide the CFU.”

"This is a time to stimulate a new era of football in our region and my sincerest hope is that my resignation can indicate to you that acting in the best interest of the CFU is what we should all do, even if it requires some sacrifices."

The cash-for-votes investigation led to FIFA vice-president Jack Warner resigning from all football (soccer) related activities and Mohamed Bin Hammam being banned for life for allegedly offering inducements to vote for him over Sepp Blatter in the FIFA presidential election.

In her resignation letter, Kanhai made no mention of whether or not she had been threatened but she is known to have provided crucial evidence that helped bring down Warner, Bin Hammam and other Caribbean officials.

[Cocorite]

Caribbean Football Union Looks to Establish Order at FIFA  


In her resignation letter, Kanhai made no mention of whether or not she had been threatened but she is known to have provided crucial evidence that helped bring down Warner, Bin Hammam and other Caribbean officials.

Ooh Guude

It took a woman with backbone eh? Shame on we fellas.

[Flex]

Burrell, Jones, Jean-Bart part of committee to steer CFU
Friday, December 23, 2011
By CMC

Well-known personalities Horace Burrell, Ronald Jones and Yves Jean-Bart were among nine administrators appointed to restore the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to normalcy over the next five months.

Burrell, the suspended president of the Jamaica Football Federation, who will regain his status on January 16 next year; Jones, president of Barbados' Football Association and Minister of Education; and Jean-Bart of Haiti are the three most recognisable figures on the nine-member Normalisation Committee appointed during an Extraordinary Congress of the CFU over the last two days at FIFA headquarters.

They have been joined by Luis Hernandez of Cuba, Victor Daniel from Grenada, Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, Larry Mussenden from Bermuda, Everton Gonsalves of Antigua & Barbuda and Rignaal Francisca of Curaçao to execute a number of tasks to return the CFU to equilibrium following the fall-out from the cash-for-votes scandal that rocked the regional governing body earlier this year. Several high-ranking officials in the regional game, principally CFU president Jack Warner, either stepped away from the game, suffered suspension imposed by FIFA, the sport's world governing body, fines, or reprimands.

Jean-Bart, chairman of the Congress, said in a media release yesterday: "I am proud to have been part of such a historical achievement and expect the decisions taken at the Zurich meetings will result in a brighter and better CFU."

The Normalisation Committee has a ten-point plan on which to work, leading to elections for a new CFU Executive Committee no later than May 15 next year.

The Committee will perform the functions of the CFU Executive Committee until elections are held.

It is also expected to appoint an interim CFU general secretary and review new CFU statutes to be proposed by the CFU Legal Committee.

Preparing the 2011 annual report and setting a date for a CFU Extraordinary Congress to approve the new CFU statutes must also take place no later than 90 days from Tuesday this week. The Normalisation Committee is also expected to appoint a Legal Committee, a Finance Committee and a Football Committee, while also making recommendations to the membership as to the legal domicile of the CFU.

Appointing two delegates to attend all CONCACAF meetings or working groups will also be a task of the CFU Normalisation Committee, as well as consulting with the Confederation on the appointment of a member of the Committee as the Caribbean zone representative to the FIFA Executive Committee as an observer.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said: "I am very pleased that the representatives of the CFU have reached an agreement in order to move forward and to look into the future, for the good of the game in the region."

Leaders of 30 national associations attended the meeting that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Burrell named on CFU Normalisation Committee
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS
Jamaica Observer
Friday, December 23, 2011

SUSPENDED president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, has been named to a Normalisation Committee to direct the affairs of the battered Caribbean Football Union (CFU) until a congress can be held to elect a new exceutive.

Burrell, who is serving three months of a six-month suspension handed down by FIFA for unspecified ethics violations in relation to the cash-for-vote scandal that threatened to capsize the region's football, is expected to return to all his football appointments, posts and activities on January 16 next year.

The decision to appoint the nine-man committee was reached after two days of meetings at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, as the 30 presidents of the territorial body sat down to chart a course forward.

"On this occasion, the members resolved to convene an extraordinary congress and to formalise the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to execute various tasks on behalf of the CFU," a press release from the CFU stated.

Other members of the committee are Yves Jean-Bart (Haiti), Luis Hernandez (Cuba), Victor Daniel (Grenada), Jeffrey Webb (Cayman Islands), Larry Mussenden (Bermuda), Ronald Jones (Barbados), Everton Gonsalves (Antigua and Barbuda) and Rignaal Francisca (Curacao).

The vote-buying scandal which rocked world football resulted from a two-day meeting in Trinidad and Tobago when FIFA presidential candidate Mohammed bin Hammam was accused of offering US$40,000 cash gifts to CFU members to support him against the incumbent, Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter.

As the scandal took on a viral effect, bin Hammam was forced to withdraw from the race, giving the Swiss a fourth consecutive term as head of world football.

The Qatari was later banned for life in relation to the incident. Another high-profile casualty was CONCACAF and CFU president and FIFA vice-president, Trinidadian Austin 'Jack' Warner, who resigned before sanctions were brought against him.

His departure from all football-related activities left an opening for president of the CFU, where Burrell was considered a favourite for the post.

But he later picked up his suspension while acting in the position at the height of the campaign, leaving another Jamaican, Tony James, and Trinidadian Harold Taylor as the chief contenders.

That election, scheduled for Montego Bay last month, was called off as the CFU secretariat claimed there were no funds available to finance the two-day congress.

Angenie Khanai, the Trinidadian general secretary of the CFU, subsequently quit her position.

Meanwhile, the Normalisation Committee is mandated to "perform the functions of the CFU Executive Committee, until such time that the CFU elects a new CFU executive committee; appointing an interim CFU general secretary; review new CFU statutes to be proposed by the CFU Legal Committee, where JFF general secretary Horace Reid is a member; preparing the 2011 Annual Report of the CFU; setting a date for a CFU extraordinary congress to approve the new CFU statutes — such date to be no later than 90 days after December 20, 2011; setting a date for the 2012 ordinary congress — such date to be no later than May 15, 2012 — for the election of members of the CFU executive committee, among other things".

Yves Jean Bart, the acting CFU head who chaired the meetings in Zurich, said he was "proud to have been part of such a historical achievement and expects that the decisions taken at the Zurich meetings will result in a brighter and better CFU".

In the CFU press release, FIFA president Blatter was quoted as saying: "I am very pleased that the representatives of the CFU have reached an agreement in order to move forward and to look into the future, for the good of the game in the region."

It was Blatter who had offered to host the crucial meeting at football's lavish headquarters in Switzerland.

Jamaica was represented at the meeting by acting JFF president Dale Spencer.

[Tallman]

Warner breaks silence after CFU appointments
ctntworld.com
 
Former Vice President of FIFA and President of CONCACAF and CFU, Mr. Jack Warner, has broken his silence following news that nine officials of the CFU were appointed in Zurich on Wednesday to look after the affairs of the CFU.
 
In a statement on Friday, Mr. Warner admitted that from June 19th, 2011 to the present, he tried his best to say nothing about football, whether at the regional level or at the international level and on the FIFA in particular. But this has now changed following the meeting of Caribbean Presidents with FIFA in Zurich on 20th and 21st December.
 
The following is the statement from Mr. Warner:
 
"It is understood that Yves Jean-Bart (Haiti), by correspondence dated November 17, 2011 advised the membership that "FIFA has acquiesced to assist by hosting a workshop for the PRESIDENTS of all thirty (30) Member Associations of the CFU".
 
By further correspondence dated December 1, 2011, Jean-Bart informed on the appointment of a CFU Finance Task Force which will "present a report to the CFU Presidents Meeting in Zurich on December 20, 2011."
 
The suggestion therefore was that the representatives of the Caribbean MAs went to Europe to attend a CFU meeting with all the implications of such a meeting. Firstly, to set the record straight and of particular significance in this scenario is the fact that neither the CFU nor the CONCACAF is a member of FIFA, with the CFU being the regional administrative arm of the CONCACAF. Therefore neither organization has any legal standing within the FIFA or vice versa.
 
Notwithstanding the above, the Presidents attended the meeting in Zurich to presumably discuss various matters that should have been within the sole purview of the CFU membership. It is understood that an agenda based on a false premise was developed and when it was discovered that the meeting went against the constitution of the CFU, an Extraordinary Congress of the CFU Presidents was hastily called for the next day. At this unconstitutional CFU Congress, certain decisions were taken by the FIFA President, decisions which the Presidents of twenty-six of the thirty national associations present, accepted without even consulting with their members who they purported to represent.  Kudos to the Presidents of the Anguilla and St. Vincent and the Grenadines FA as well as the Acting Presidents of the Jamaica Football Federation and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation for their full understanding of the constitution of the CFU and for taking a responsible stand against the FIFA and its unethical actions.
 
Among the unethical decisions which were accepted by the twenty-six cowardly men and women present was "the appointment of a Normalization Committee to execute various tasks on behalf of the CFU." This "Normalisation Committee" comprises of nine persons, including the suspended President of the Jamaica Football Federation, who will assume his appointment on 16 January 2012 upon completion of his suspension from all football activities. Between this and the presence of Angenie Kanhai who was supposedly to have resigned as General Secretary of the CFU effective December 20, 2011, this meeting has to be a farce of epic proportions.
 
All Caribbean peoples should be ashamed of these 26 persons who are prepared to accept the crumbs of the FIFA President when in the very recent past these same men and women used to dine at his table as equals.  Other "decisions" handed down to the CFU are:
•         the appointment of an interim CFU General Secretary;
•         review of the new CFU statutes to be proposed by the CFU Legal Committee;
•         preparation of the 2011 Annual Report;
•         setting a date for a CFU extraordinary congress to approve the new CFU statutes - such date to be no later than 90 days after 20 December 2011;
•         setting a date for the for the 2012 ordinary congress - such date to be no later than 15 May 2012 - for the election of members of the CFU executive committee, among other things;
•         appointing a Legal Committee, a Finance Committee and a Football Committee;
•         making recommendations to the membership as to the legal domicile of the CFU;
•         appointing two observers to attend all CONCACAF meetings or working groups; and
•         consulting with the CONCACAF on the appointment of a member of the Normalisation Committee as the Caribbean zone representative to the FIFA executive committee. This person will hold observer status.
 
The above "decisions" that were handed down to the members of the Caribbean while in a European country only serve to emphasize the unconstitutional not to mention unethical actions of those who wholeheartedly agreed and endorsed these actions but which beg more questions.
(i)            Was the date and venue for the 2012 Congress not set by the Congress of 2011 that was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica on February 14, 2011?
(ii)           Why was Captain Horace Burrell appointed a member of this so-called normalisation committee when he was suspended for six months by the same FIFA? Is it that if he agrees to serve three months he will be on two year's probation during which time he will have to carry out the dictates of FIFA to avoid being suspended for the other three months?
 
Never in the history of the FIFA has an organization that is NOT a member of FIFA been subject to the "law" of FIFA. Such demands that were made of the CFU by the FIFA under the guise of caring and concern would never, ever, be made of the UEFA or any other regional arm of football for that matter but, in the Caribbean, this is acceptable. What was not discussed and that should have been brought to the table were:
•         the status of the FIFA Development Office in the Caribbean and the termination by the FIFA, without reason, of the contracts of all officers of this office.
•        the termination, by the FIFA, of the contracts of the Trinidadian FIFA Referee Development Officers Ramesh Ramdhan and Merere Gonzales; again without explanation, without reason.
•         the suspension of the Caribbean's only female President (BVI ) for 18 months despite the FIFA President's claim that the "Future of Football is Feminine". Was the lady being punished for being outspoken?
•         the impact such unethical decisions would have on the development of football in the region.
•         the FIFA's unethical and high handed behaviour to Barbadian Lisle Austin, the legally Acting President of the CONCACAF.
•         the arbitrary postponement of the legal and constitutional meeting of the CFU Extraordinary Congress called for by 13 members.
 
Instead of the above, Caribbean members travelled to Europe to be dictated to and to be wined and dined by the FIFA President. By their ready acceptance of the mandate set by the FIFA President, 26 so-called Caribbean leaders have demonstrated that they are more interested in serving themselves than serving those persons who elected them to office.
 
For their cooperation and subservience the FIFA President has promised Ms. Kanhai that she will become a full time employee of the FIFA, thereby satisfying a dream of hers since she completed her Swiss Masters Degree at no expense to her; with a similar promise being made to Jeff Webb of fulfilling his long time dream to become a member of the FIFA Executive Committee even if he is only an Observer at this stage and finally with Captain Burrell to be reinstated at the CONCACAF Executive Committee.
 
In one fell swoop, the Caribbean football leadership has now undone its struggle of some 33 years and has disrespected the entire region!
 
I am advised that the so-called "Extraordinary Congress" also discussed the issue of the World Cup TV rights in the region but I will not deal with that issue here today. That shall be dealt with on Wednesday December 28, 2011 when I will trace the history of those rights and show the part played by the FIFA President and his General Secretary since 2002 and the promise made for 2018/22. Also to be dealt with in the future will be the question as to why both Chuck Blazer and I, for several months before the FIFA Presidential elections, had consistently discussed the question of using our best efforts to replace the FIFA President because we both had recognized that a fish begins to rot from its head and why the same Chuck Blazer had a sudden change of heart.
 
The arrogance with which the FIFA continues to ride roughshod over duly appointed officials of both the CFU and the CONCACAF is not just unethical but plain outright immoral. It demonstrates the crass disrespect to the independence and sanctity of the Constitutions of both organisations because the FIFA imposes on these two organisations its will which is neither recognized by FIFA's constitution nor the constitutions of the CFU and the CONCACAF.
 
This clearly is the colonising of the CFU and the CONCACAF at best and at worst it represents a hostile takeover of organisations in which it has no locus standi or even a hierarchical relationship. One cannot help but wonder whether it is because of the colour and texture of these organisations that this abuse is allowed to continue without a voice being heard from among its own membership and the the wider football community.
 
This type of behaviour would have evoked the ire of world football if FIFA had attempted such a coup d'etat at UEFA. The response would have been so vociferous that even attempts by the FIFA to apologise would have been drowned out. But to date not a word, not a voice, not an action of note to condemn the FIFA's new approach from anyone within the FIFA and this leaves those of us who are conscious about maintaining the sacredness of constitutions in a state of bewilderment.
 
The FIFA must never be allowed to continue without a voice of dissent being raised against such malfeasance. The FIFA President must not be allowed to continue the demeaning of people of colour without someone raising a voice to tell him enough is enough. The FIFA President cannot continue faux pas after faux pas with impunity especially when all his wrongdoings are along the same vector of megalomania, covert racism and discrimination.
 
The time has come to break the silence. One must no longer accept silence as affirming the wrong being perpetuated by the FIFA. In this regard I have decided to break my silence.
 
If by my statement today and others to follow it means that I shall be summoned to face the FIFA President's Ethics Committee, the FIFA President's Disciplinary Committee or the FIFA President's Appeals Committee, then I challenge the FIFA to so do. But I am no longer prepared to sit back and watch from the sidelines, while a few men (and women) destroy an entire region for their own selfish and self-serving motives, for the crumbs from the table of the FIFA President and for a business class ticket and two-days allowance.
 
Jack Warner
Former President CFU, CONCACAF, FIFA Vice President
December 23, 2011"

[MEP]

What he eh tellin people is that he and de candidate from TnT go way back and in fact it was de candidate who first bring he to run against the TTFA.....things come full circle now

[FF]

I hear sound I see fury... and nothing but

[Football supporter]

He said, she said, its not fair....blah. blah, blah. I suggest Mr Warner direct his energies at answering the questions surrounding his own conduct in the T&T High Court.

[tempo]

Boo Mr. Warner, Boo. Nobody with any substance and understanding of your highhanded and horrific treatment of your own countrymen who were merely seeking the realization of promises made in 2006 will buy what you are selling. The Europeans and Americans have their own disabilities to contend with when dealing with people from the African diaspora. However, charity and respect begin at home and if FIFA's treatment of the CFU has taken a highhanded and paternalistic turn you can rest assured that you played no small role in allowing this to happen.

[King Deese]

Well boi, you have to be the biggest clown I have ever seen. Just imagine you, the pot, calling the kettle black. You are actually saying the same things about someone else that people have been saying about you. What incredible irony. Everytime you open your mouth shit comes out. Nobody cares about what you think or what you have to say. Why don't you just shut to f$%k up.

We could handle the truth. Those 26 men and women that you so poorly described are probably a few good men. We need them on the wall. We don't need you on the wall. Your existence is truly grotesque. You use words like honor, ethical, and courage as a punch line.

January 6th, is the day of the jackass.

[King Deese]

Warner breaks silence after CFU appointments
ctntworld.com
 
Former Vice President of FIFA and President of CONCACAF and CFU, Mr. Jack Warner, has broken his silence following news that nine officials of the CFU were appointed in Zurich on Wednesday.
 
The following is the statement from Mr. Warner:
 
Firstly, to set the record straight and of particular significance in this scenario is the fact that neither the CFU nor the CONCACAF is a member of FIFA.

Jack Warner
Former President CFU, CONCACAF, FIFA Vice President
December 23, 2011"

All these years the trini madman had you thinking that non members of FIFA could participate in FIFA affiliated tournaments. You paid your hard earned money to support this lunatic indirectly not knowing you were part of two organizations that are non members of FIFA. FIFA will not let you participate in any of it's tournaments if you are not a member and we all know this to be true.
You have been bamboozled, hoodwinked, deceived into believing otherwise.

[Deeks]

Meery CHRISTMAS Warriors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All this CFU/Concacaf not being FIFA members is semantics, aka  a load of bull. Legally and technically they may not be memebers of FIFA. But the countries that form these 2 organizations and legal members of FIFA. So they ultimately are responsible. The CFU was formed by Kamperveen and them to have more organized competition among the Caribbean members of Concacaf. It was not a breakaway from COncacaf. We also have UNCAF, which is the Central American version of CFU. UNCAF is not a breakaway outfit. Is Jack who used it to consolidate his vote to gain power in Concacaf. Rightly at that time, the Caribbean teams, with the exception of Haiti and Cuba to some extent, used to be "marginaliesd" in Concacaf. Jack tried to put an end to that. He more or less succeeded in terms of the admin. aspest. Football wise was a mixed blessing. Only JA and TT had fleeting success. TT football went backwards even though the spotlight was always on the Special Advisor. The country that benifitted the most was the US.

[Sam]

Ent Jack is the reason why FIFA coming after CFU, Jack made it bad for CFU and none of the other CFU members wants to admit this, if wasn't for the bribe case everything would have been smooth sailing.

Now de Mexicans and Amercians go take over and CFU dead, thank Jack for that.


HAROLD TAYLOR told de T&T Newsday.

“I spoke with (Warner on Thursday) and he was very upset about this thing because we have struggled since 1978 to get this Caribbean Football Union going, with Andre Kamperveen out of Suriname.

“We wanted the Caribbean people to have a voice because before, in CONCACAF, with (Mexican) Joachim Soria Terrazas (at the helm) for 25 years,” Taylor continued.

“He was the first president of CONCACAF and we never got anything. It’s only when Jack became president that the people in the Caribbean started to get appointments.”

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/sport/football/warner-accuses-caribbean-officials-caving-fifa-134#comment-75459

[Deeks]

Well Harold, Jack went to the other extreme. I know for a fact that Guatemala did not like Jack for moving CONCACAF HQ to NY from Quat. City. But the caribbean can still hold their own because of out numbers. Whoever the next CFU president is, he will have to do a balancing act to convince everybody to be on the same page. But right now, it look like FIFA trying to influence the selection of the new president. They do not want an uncontrolable like jack.

[Flex]

American Howard appointed CONCACAF's acting general secretary
Jamaica Gleaner.

American Ted Howard will act in the post of general secretary of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF).

CONCACAF announced yesterday that Howard was officially named acting general secretary to replace compatriot Chuck Blazer in the position.

Blazer, who blew the lid off the cash-for-votes scandal that bedevilled the game in the Caribbean in the second half of last year, announced last October that he would be stepping down from the position at the end of last year.

Howard has been CONCACAF deputy general secretary over the last 13 years. He served as director and group manager of NBA Marketing from 1988 until joining CONCACAF a decade later.

He was also executive director of the North American Soccer League from 1971 until it folded in 1984.

Howard's appointment maintained the strong American influence at its corporate offices and his primary challenge will be to restore the image that was tarnished from the fallout of the cash-for-votes scandal.

CONCACAF still has to appoint a full-time president to replace Trinidad & Tobago's Austin 'Jack' Warner, since Honduran Alfredo Hawit is currently doing the job on an interim basis.

Warner resigned from the post at the height of the bribery scandal after he facilitated a meeting in Port of Spain last May at which Mohamed Bin Hammam was alleged to have offered US$1 million to Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials in exchange for votes in last June's FIFA presidential candidate election.

Warner resigned all of his posts in the game, including CFU President and FIFA vice-president, and FIFA dropped their investigation into his part in the scandal on the condition that he stay away from football.

Several CFU officials were suspended, fined or reprimanded, while Asian Football Association President Mohamed Bin Hammam was banned for life.

Barbadian Lisle Austin, Warner's elected CONCACAF deputy, was suspended for a year after illegally trying to fire Blazer in the wake of the scandal.

[Flex]

Warner’s Taylor faces CFU ballot today
… Ex-FIFA VP makes power grab by proxy
By: Lasana Liburd (wired868).

Acting Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner’s thoughts are likely to return to the football field today as his long-time colleague and former employee, Harold Taylor, lines up among four candidates to seek election to the post of Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president in Budapest, Hungary.

The CFU’s new executive will be selected today in its ordinary congress at the Boscolo Hotel in Budapest.
Taylor will be challenged for the vacant post by Gordon Derrick, the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association general secretary, Ronald Jones, the Barbados Football Association (BFA) president and Luis Hernandez, Cuba Football Association (AFC) president.

The positions of first, second and third vice-presidents and executive member will also be contested today.

The Caribbean body was scheduled to select its officials last November in Jamaica but postponed the event. The CFU claimed to be unable to find any funds after Warner’s hasty exit last June, which was made in the face of FIFA bribery allegations.

Warner served as CFU general secretary from 1979 to 1981 and president for the next three decades until his controversial departure last year. He was also CONCACAF president for 20 years after being elected in 1991.

FIFA has allowed the CFU and CONCACAF to piggyback on its own congress, which will be held on May 24 and 25 at the same venue in Budapest, so as to conserve the limited funds of the respective football bodies.

CONCACAF will hold its congress tomorrow and Cayman Islands president Jeffrey Webb, as the only presidential candidate, will officially replace Warner at the helm.

The Caribbean holds 25 of CONCACAF’s 35 full members and today’s winner—granted that he can unite the region—will automatically become the most powerful football administrator in the confederation.
Warner has staked a lot on Taylor’s campaign.

On 7 May 2012, Wired868 exclusively revealed that the Minister of Works and Infrastructure wrote to Sport Minister Anil Roberts, on a State letterhead, and advised him to starve the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) of funding unless it could justify its reluctance to vote in accordance with his wishes. The TTFF subsequently nominated Taylor, who could not run without support from his local body.

Read More

[jamaica2099]

Bill Archer Blog
Jack Warner: The Comeback

Posted on May 16, 2012 4:56 pm

Admit it.

You all thought that my continuing to write about Jack Warner was at least a little pointless.

The man is toast, done, out of the game forever, right? Sure he’s still got some political pull in T&T and so he’ll never end up in the prison cell he so richly deserves, but so what?

At least he’s out of football, and that’s all we really care about. Right?

Right?

http://www.bigsoccer.com/soccer/bill-archer/2012/05/16/jack-warner-the-comeback/

[theworm2345]

Gordon "Banks" Derrick out of Antigua and Barbuda (I believe he is the head of their FA) was elected president today.

[E-man]

Caribbean Football Union Press Release

May 22, 2012 – Budapest, Hungary : Gordon Derrick was elected as the new President of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) at its 35th Ordinary Congress held today in Budapest, Hungary.

The current General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association received the support of more than half of the Union’s membership during the election, which was held at the Boscolo New York Palace Hotel.

[King Deese]

Caribbean Football Union Press Release

May 22, 2012 – Budapest, Hungary : Gordon Derrick was elected as the new President of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) at its 35th Ordinary Congress held today in Budapest, Hungary.

The current General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association received the support of more than half of the Union’s membership during the election, which was held at the Boscolo New York Palace Hotel.

The CFU 1- Freddy Kreuger/King Corbeau Jack alliance 0