ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Dominica Football Association president Patrick John has denied any involvement in the cash-for-vote scandal that has rocked the global football fraternity. John joins several other CFU federations who have already distanced themselves from the controversial charges that have also split CONCACAF, the continental governing body for North, Central America and the Caribbean.
It has been alleged that Caribbean Football Union member associations received US$40 000 bribes in exchange for supporting challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam leading up to the FIFA presidential elections against the incumbent Sepp Blatter
The charges have since led to the suspension of Bin Hammam and CFU and CONCACAF president Jack Warner, who is also a FIFA vice-president.
John, who attended the meeting in Trinidad last month when the bribes were allegedly handed out, said that no offer of money was made to his association.
“Dominica was never approached about the gift being given because Dominica opposed Bin Hammam’s candidacy at the meeting when he made his presentation,” he said.
“He was told that Dominica will not support him and will instead support Blatter. We were very tough on him. Other members asked some soft questions about when they will or will not get the money, that is, the money for the Goal Project and an increase in the Financial Assistance Project and then the story broke out.”
Other CFU members including Jamaica and Barbados have already denied receiving money in exchange for their votes.
John, a former Dominica prime minister, said he could not speak on behalf of other CFU countries but reiterated that the DFA were unaware of bribe money.
“I did not expect Dominica to be approached by anybody knowing our position. I am a supporter of Blatter. Dominica was excluded from that (bribery). I am not sure if the other associations received money to vote,” he pointed out.
FIFA have launched an investigation into the bribery allegations.