Former Fifa vice president, Jack Warner, yesterday released a video condemning the actions of Fifa for allowing the US to host the 2015 Summer World Cup. However, Warner’s source of information came from the international satirical website The Onion.
The video, which was released yesterday on his official Facebook page through his online channel Warner TV, began with him thanking his supporters for standing by him. However, five minutes into the eight-minute video Warner picked up a printed article from the Onion and began to condemn the US for their “double standards.”
“I look to see that Fifa has frantically announced the 2015—2015 this year, Olympic final in the World Cup beginning May 27. If the Fifa is so bad, why is it that the USA wants to keep the Fifa World Cup? Why is it that they began games on May 27—two days before Fifa election. The video was subsequently taken down but not before it was picked up by several international news agencies.
Th Onion article was published on May 27 and stated, “Zurich—After the Justice Department indicted numerous executives from world soccer’s governing body on charges of corruption and bribery, frantic and visibly nervous officials from Fifa held an impromptu press conference Wednesday to announce that the United States has been selected to host this summer’s 2015 World Cup.”
Questioning why the US would start the “Summer World Cup” games two days before the Fifa presidential elections, Warner said, “Why is it that they began games on May 27—two days before Fifa election. Why is it that the US authorities sought to embarass Fifa in Zurich? Something has to be wrong?”
Warner said the US may have been offended by the snub because Qatar is a small, Arabic, Muslim country. Touching on accusation made about him stealing money from Australia, Warner defended himself stating that the money he received from Australia was a gift to help repair the Centre of Excellence.
“Australia promised to assist in helping to develop and assist in fixing the Centre of Excellence. There were no strings attached to that. So I said fine, go ahead. They were helping to develop the Centre of Excellence and I said fine,” Warner said. Warner, 72, was arrested on Wednesday on a provisional warrant on charges of racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud related to his tenure at Fifa. He is currently out in $2.5m bail. Thirteen other people, linked to international football, have also been charged in the US indictment.