Warner letter violates ban, says Blazer

CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer claims suspended FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has violated the terms of his ban.

On Tuesday, Warner urged members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to vote for current FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Wednesday’s election.

But with Trinidadian Warner suspended from all football-related activity after being implicated in a bribery scandal with Asian Football confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam, Blazer sees the move as a breach of that suspension.

Warner and Bin Hammam – the latter of who was originally slated to contest the election against incumbent Blatter – are alleged to have paid cash to CFU officials in return for them voting for Bin Hammam in the June 1 poll.

Qatari Bin Hammam pulled out of the election on Sunday, and later that day the pair were suspended from all football activity.

“We have clear evidence of a violation of his (Warner’s) suspension and we have reported that to the FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke,” Blazer said.

“He has also been meeting with (CONCACAF) members, which is against the rules of the suspension.”

Warner’s letter urged CFU members to vote for Blatter in Wednesday’s poll and implored them not to use the FIFA Congress to stage a protest.

“At our last meeting we agreed as a union to support the incumbent Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter in his quest to regain the presidency,” Warner wrote.

“I wish to assure you nothing has changed. Our mandate was set then and despite it all we must fulfil it.”

Warner was also adamant that there should be no protest on his behalf on Wednesday.

“I, Jack Warner, a servant and believer in the principles of this beautiful game do humbly besiege (sic) you, my brothers and sisters from the Caribbean Football Union to desist from initiating any protest action at tomorrow’s FIFA Congress,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, CONCACAF interim president Lisle Austin – appointed to the role on Monday after Warner’s suspension – has asked Blazer to explain his decision to engage Chicago law firm Collins and Collins to investigate Warner, leading to his suspension.

Austin also asked Blazer to cease working with Collins and Collins.