The FIFA Ethics Committee has opened proceedings against Jack Warner and Mohammed Bin Hammam over possible charges of bribery (official FIFA statement). The committee is due to meet (and most likely decide) on May 29th, just a couple of days before the June 1 elections date (and funnily enough, on a Sunday, right after the Champions League final).
Chuck Blazer, a staunch Jack Warner supporter in the past, had reported Warner and Hammam to the FIFA Ethics committee. There were reports that FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke had asked Bin Hammam to withdraw his candidacy earlier this week, and it seems that when Hammam refused, the FIFA Ethics committee proceeded with this case.
What’s the role of Blazer (and why is Warner, a close Blatter ally, implicated)? You can read the Soccerlens Twitter timeline for more insights, but briefly speaking:
- One theory is that Bin Hammam managed to convince Warner to vote for him (through bribes / political favours) and Chuck Blazer has decided to side with Blatter in the hope that he will eventually replace Warner as CONCACAF president (and also get a future World Cup).
- The second theory is that Blatter and Warner have played a double-bluff with Hammam, trying to discredit him and hound him out of FIFA. If this is true, Warner will be cleared of any wrongdoing and Hammam will be found guilty. Unless…
- If Hammam withdraws his candidacy, this matter could be closed and put away for good.
Also see, an article from earlier today: Why FIFA cannot (and will not) tackle corruption.
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