BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Football supremo Jack Warner said yesterday he resigned from FIFA to save CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union from further chaos, in the face of the ongoing cash-for-votes scandal. Making it clear that he had not been pushed, the Trinidadian said he also believed he would have been acquitted had a fair investigation run its course.
The 67-year-old, one of the most powerful men in world football, quit as one of the vice-presidents of football’s world governing body yesterday, and also relinquished his hold on CONCACAF and the CFU.
He had been suspended from all three organisations pending an investigation by FIFA’s ethics committee into corruption allegations, which also implicated Asian football chief and former FIFA presidential contender Mohammed bin Hammam.
“This decision is by my own volition and self-determination; albeit it comes during the sequel to the contentious Mohammed bin Hammam meeting in Port of Spain in May with CFU Delegates,” Warner said.
“I am convinced, and I am advised by Counsel, that since my actions did not extend beyond facilitating the meeting that gave Mr bin Hammam an opportunity to pursue his aborted bid for the FIFA presidency, I would be fully exonerated by any objective arbiter.
“I have, nonetheless, arrived at the decision to withdraw from FIFA affairs in order to spare FIFA, CONCACAF and, in particular, CFU and its membership, from further acrimony and divisiveness arising from this and related issues.”
A report submitted to FIFA by CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer last month had alleged wrongdoing at the Trinidad meeting and sparked a controversial probe involving CFU member countries.
It was alleged that at the meeting, CFU nations were offered US$40 000 in return for supporting bin Hammam at the June 1 FIFA presidential election against incumbent Sepp Blatter.
Warner protested his innocence and vowed to unleash a “football tsunami” on the footballing world.
Having run CONCACAF and the CFU for the last two decades, Warner said he left both organisations in good shape.

“I am gratified that FIFA has acknowledged my service to international and regional football over several decades,” Warner said.