The FBI is investigating CONCACAF secretary general Chuck Blazer concerning payments to accounts controlled by him in the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.
According to a news report published by the Independent recently in Britain, the FBI was looking at documents which seemed to indicate that confidential payments were made to offshore accounts.
The report said that the payment was first made to a Bahamas account. Blazer initially claimed that the money was a ‘repayment of a personal loan” he had made to former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who is a Cabinet minister in Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s T&T government.
Blazer, a FIFA executive member, is alleged to have informed FIFA authorities in May before the June 1 FIFA presidential election, about an alleged bribery attempt by Warner.
Warner and then presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hamman were suspended after being accused of either giving or offering bribes of US$40,000 to each of the 25 members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) at a meeting in Port of Spain in May.
The money was allegedly offered in exchange for votes by CFU members for bin Hammam, who was challenging the incumbent Sepp Blatter.
Warner who was initially suspended in May later resigned his post as Fifa vice-president.
Earlier this month the Ethics Committee commenced proceedings against 16 football official from the Caribbean. The cases were related to bribery allegations in Trinidad.
The report said in September last year, Warner approved a US$250,000 payment from the CFU to a private company operated by Blazer.
It is also alleged that an additional US$57,000 went from the CFU to Blazer’s account in the Cayman Islands.
Commenting on the Independent newspaper report, Warner said a football avalanche is coming in the wake of the FBI investigation, adding, that he will reveal more at a later date.
Blazer told a Sky News reporter that he is unaware that he is being probed by the FBI.
