In relation to the allegations made against vice-president Jack A. Warner and the Simpaul Travel company with regard to World Cup ticketing, the FIFA Executive Committee followed the recommendation of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee chaired by Marcel Mathier (Switzerland) and closed the file. The recommendation reads as follows:
The Executive Committee expresses disapproval of vice-president Jack A. Warner’s conduct and reminds him to exercise the requisite level of care in ticketing matters in the future and to strictly abide by all directives. Jack A. Warner should, in particular, ensure that his son, Daryan Warner, does not abuse the position held by his father.
UPDATED: Anyone reading this in the UK might wish to tune into Panorama on Dec 10, to watch Andrew Jennings attempt to confront Mr. Warner about this. Everyone anywhere else...well, it would not be proper of me to suggest a copyright-defeating thing thing like Bit Torrent.
The BCC tonight is reporting that Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, a former candidate to coach the England national team, is involved in a transfer bribe scandal. Two agents —Teni Yerima and Peter Harrison — claim to have made the payments (nicknamed "bungs") to Allardyce to secure transfers. The allegations follow the claims of Luton Town manager Mike Newell, who said freelance agent Charles Collymore offered him money as well. In addition, the BBC fingered Southampton manager Harry Redknapp and Chelsea's Frank Arnsen.
The news comes on the heels of a report detailing that Newcastle United lied to a VAT and Duties commission about how much money they had spent on transfers and agents.
In other news, Jack Warner has struck back at allegations he touted World Cup tickets, claiming he was set up, and issuing a press release stating that he would be filing a defamation lawsuit. Warner has been a pivotal figure in the FIFA government under Sepp Blatter, and is no stranger to controversy. For a stomach-turning look at just how in the muck Warner apparently is, see Andrew Jennings' excellent book Foul, which is currently unavailable in the USA. And go try to find a copy of the book "Badfellas" by Andrew Tomlinson and John Sugden. It's riveting stuff for FIFA wonks.
The scandal finally comes to roost: Jack Warner is under the gun again. Watch for more on this and remember: This is the SECOND time Warner has been questioned over ticket sales and the fifth (by my count) that he has been accused of impropriety.
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