The BBC is reporting it has seen documents that implicate former FIFA executive Jack Warner in money laundering and bribery schemes where he used FIFA funds for personal use.
According to the report, Warner accepted $10 million from the South African federation across three wire transfers in early 2008 - publicly claimed to be money for soccer development in the Caribbean - and laundered it, the majority through payments to a Trinidad supermarket chain JTA Supermarkets. The payments then come back to Warner, when he uses them to pay off personal loans and debts.
The BBC claims it handed over the evidence it received to Trinidad & Tobago’s sports minister, who said, “He [Mr Warner] must face justice, he must answer all of these questions. Justice has to be served. He will have to account, with this investigation, he will have to answer for his actions.”
Warner is currently under house arrest in Trinidad & Tobago while he awaits extradition to the United States, where he is one of nine former or current FIFA employees set to face money laundering, fraud, and racketeering charges. The alleged bribe from South Africa has been in the spotlight, as it roped in numerous top executives, including secretary general Jerome Valcke, whom reports claim had to approve the transfer of funds.
Reports today have also claimed that an unearthed email connects resigning president Sepp Blatter to the transfer as well. The email, reportedly sent by Valcke, claims that Blatter discussed the funds transfer with then-South African president Thabo Mbeki. Blatter has not been personally indicted by in the United States, but reports indicate he is being investigated.