Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Blatter seeks Caribbean reform

Thomas Keppell
Wednesday 23 November 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, has invited Caribbean football leaders to Zurich next month to help rebuild relations after the region's reputation was wrecked by a bribery scandal sparked by their own colleagues.

Caribbean football has seen its top three elected officials – Jack Warner, Lisle Austin and Horace Burrell – either resign while under investigation or be banned by Fifa since the corruption case emerged in May.

Fifa has banned 11 Caribbean officials for up to 26 months, reprimanded five more and warned six after allegations they were involved in $40,000 cash bribes being offered by former presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

Six officials, including Warner – the former Fifa vice president and Caribbean Football Union president – evaded justice by resigning all of their football positions.

The explosive scandal began when officials from four Caribbean islands turned whistleblower to alert Fifa to alleged corruption.

Fifa said yesterday that Blatter will host the Caribbean delegation next month to "help the member associations to get back on track."

A statement read: "The CFU presidents will be invited... for an informal meeting with the Fifa president aimed at sorting out the issues and try to reconcile them."

The reconciliation talks are likely to happen before the 30-nation CFU bloc can elect a new leader to replace Warner, who retained his position as a Trinidad & Tobago government minister. The poll winner will be a strong contender to replace Warner on the 24-man Fifa executive committee as the Caribbean delegate.

Burrell, from Jamaica, hoped to be a candidate but is banned by Fifa until January, while Austin, a long-time Warner ally from Barbados, was prevented from succeeding his mentor when Fifa banned him for one year.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in