Jack Warner Alleges FIFA Link to Trinidad Election
Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner says he has strong evidence to prove a deep link between FIFA money and the 2010 general elections in Trinidad.
Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice president implicated in the corruption scandal roiling world football, said on Wednesday that he can prove a link between football's global governing body and his country's 2010 elections.
Warner, facing possible extradition to the United States after he was indicted by American authorities on corruption charges, has emerged as a key figure in the drama that culminated in FIFA president Sepp Blatter's stunning resignation on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Warner used a pre-recorded paid political broadcast televised on TV6 in Trinidad and Tobago to say he has compiled a file of documents that shows "a link between FIFA, its funding and me, the link between FIFA its funding and the United National Congress (UNC) and the People's Partnership government in (Trinidad and Tobago's) general election 2010."
The TV6 website reported that in the five-minute broadcast, Warner said the file "also deals with my knowledge of international transactions at FIFA, including its president Mr Sepp Blatter and, lastly, other matters involving (Trinidad and Tobago's) current prime minister."
In the January 2010 UNC internal election, Warner endorsed Kamla Persad-Bissessar as UNC leader. She went on to be elected the country's first woman prime minister, but Warner later broke with her government and party.
Warner, free on bond after his arrest last week, is one of 14 current or former FIFA officials and sports marketing executives accused by US prosecutors of taking part in a sweeping kickbacks scheme going back 20 years and totalling $150 million in bribes given or received.
In his television address he said he feared for his life, and indicated he will fight extradition.
"I have no intention of allowing them to deprive me of my freedom," he said.