Warner lied about Centre of Excellence… And so did FIFA and CONCACAF Presidents

Prior to that on Friday, the current Minister of Works and Infrastructure also told CNC3 that the multi-sport complex was a gift from former FIFA President, Havelange, to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), a denial which was published in the Trinidad Express newspaper.

In both cases, Warner was less than honest.

Ever since its construction in 1998, the Centre of Excellence has belonged to Warner; the closest CONCACAF has ever got it to its deed was when the Chaguanas West MP needed a guarantor for a mortgage on the property.

In fact, the facility belongs to the Trinidadian three-times over as the ownership is split between himself and two of his companies, CCAM and Company and Renraw—‘Warner’ backwards—Investments. Warner’s wife, Maureen, is the only other director at both companies.

At last week’s CONCACAF Congress in Budapest, Hungary, the Confederation’s new president, Jeffrey Webb, made a supposedly stunning disclosure when he said that the Centre of Excellence—valued between US$22.5 and US$25.5 million—belonged to Warner.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter further alleged that the venue was improperly signed over to Warner’s family at some point and claimed the governing body would take legal action to reclaim it.

All three parties were, Wired868 can reveal, at best frugal with the truth.

Warner, according to a CONCACAF source, was correct in claiming that the Centre of Excellence was Havelange’s gift to the Caribbean. It is believed that the 96-year-old Brazilian administrator gave Warner US$2 million to start the complex although Wired868 could not verify that figure.

However, Wired868 can confirm that the main piece of property on which the Centre of Excellence now stands was purchased from business magnate and Guardian newspaper owner, Anthony Norman Sabga, on 7 October, 1998 when Sabga and fellow director, Michael Kelvin Mansoor, handed over their shares to Warner and Renraw Limited.

Read More