Tuesday 31st May, 2011
ctntworld.com
Acting President of CONCACAF, Lisle Austin, has terminated the services of General Secretary Chuck Blazer with immediate effect.
Mr Austin, the newly appointed Acting President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), sent Blazer’s dismissal letter to his hotel in Zurich just before midnight on Tuesday 31st May 2011.
Mr Blazer is the FIFA Executive Committee member who reported the bribery allegations against Mr Warner and Asian Football Confederation President, Mohamed Bin Hamman.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter and General Secretary Jerome Valcke were also informed of the decision to terminate Mr Blazer’s tenure.
Mr Austin says it is the dawn of a new era in CONCACAF and the Confederation cannot afford to be further dragged through the mud by its detractors.
He added that it is time to heal the wounds inflicted upon the Confederation and urged his membership to rebuild and strengthen friendships that once had made them one.
Mr Blazer’s firing is the latest salvo in the ongoing FIFA corruption saga.
It comes after Mr Blazer reported suspended FIFA Vice President, Jack Warner, for allegedly violating his ban.
Mr Warner along with Mr Bin Hamman were provisionally suspended on Sunday in an alleged cash-for-votes scandal and has been banned from any activity involving FIFA.
Mr Blazer reported Mr Warner to FIFA today for allegedly violating his suspension by meeting with Concacaf members yesterday, the day before Sepp Blatter was to stand unopposed in the world governing body’s controversial Presidential election.
Mr Blazer told reporters that Mr Warner had been meeting various football associations and that a statement from Acting Concacaf President, Lisle Austin, had come from Mr Warner’s aide.
Mr Blazer said to reporters earlier today that, «He has also been meeting with Concacaf members, which is against the rules of the suspension. We have clear evidence of a violation of his suspension and we have reported that to the FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke.»
According to The Telegraph, Mr Warner wrote to the 25 members of the Caribbean Football Union urging them to vote for Sepp Blatter in tomorrow’s election and make no protest.
This, according to the newspaper, is an action in itself that could be a breach of this suspension.
The letter published in The Telegraph states: «I, Jack Warner, a servant and believer in the principles of this beautiful game do humbly besiege you, my brothers and sisters from the Caribbean Football Union to desist from initiating any protest action at tomorrow’s Fifa Congress. I know many of you are hurting and it is only human nature that you would want to demonstrate your anger but despite all we must not fuel a fire set by others to incinerate all that we strive for. At our last meeting we agreed as a union to support the incumbent Joseph Sepp Blatter in his quest to regain the presidency. I wish to assure you nothing has changed – our mandate was set then and despite it all we must fulfil it. The battles I have fought over the last week are my burdens to bear; my shoulders are broad and skin is insulated to the verbal attacks I am subjected to daily. This is now my battle. I am humbled by all the support I continue to receive. Let us not be detracted for your duty is to football.»
