Former FIFA vice-president, Jack Warner yesterday told reporters that president of Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, Oliver Camps, did the right thing by resigning, and he must be commended for his action. Speaking to reporters outside City Hall, Port-of-Spain yesterday, Warner said Camps did what this country has failed to do.
“He understood where the real conflict in this whole thing is, at the level of FIFA in Zurich. While there are guys who want to play politics with the matter, he was more dignified in his approach,” Warner said.
Camps brought to an end his 19-year term as president of the local football Federation earlier this week, as he cited the current climate created by FIFA was the reason behind his decision. Camps’ resignation came just a day following FIFA’s revelation that they would be investigating ten Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials, including the TTFF boss.
The investigations stemmed from a controversial May 10 meeting at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain, involving former Asian Football Confederation president, Mohamed bin Hammam, who was accused by FIFA of giving cash “gifts” to several CFU officials.
Meanwhile, Warner confirmed Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan have spoken to him in relation to his alleged involvement in assisting the former FIFA presidential candidate, bin Hammam, by bringing money into this country to be offered as gifts to members of the CFU earlier this year.
A week ago, The Telegraph in London released a video with Warner’s voice telling Caribbean football delegates they should accept $40,000 “gifts” from Bin Hammam.
“He and I have spoken, but I do not think it is prudent for me to say what we discussed,” Warner said.
However Warner said he “had to laugh at this country” for politicising the FIFA issue.
“I have to laugh at this country for true. There is a saying in FIFA that if any government interferes in football business in any country, the country will be suspended from FIFA. Yet, the opposition seeks to interfere in FIFA’s business. People are laughing at us. I can understand that some people have political agendas, but don’t make a fool of yourself. This is what is happening here at the moment,” Warner said.