Four months after seven FIFA figures were arrested on corruption charges, former CONCACAF president Jack Warner, who also spent time as the FIFA vice president and executive committee member, has been banned for life for his involvement in alleged bribery of countries that were in the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Considering Warner’s corruption within FIFA has not been a secret, it is safe to say the decision to ban him from football-related activity for the entirety of his existence is long overdue.
Warner resigned from his position as FIFA vice president and executive committee member in 2011 after allegations of his corruption surfaced. Even though both parties never admitted any guilt and went as far as to claim innocence, it is quite clear there were many people involved that believed Warner had been a part of scandalous activity.
After the seven FIFA figures were arrested earlier this year, FIFA’s ethics committee rightfully decided to investigate further into Warner’s misbehavior.
The following is an excerpt from a statement released by FIFA:
“Mr. Warner was found to have committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF.
“In his positions as a football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, as well as other money-making schemes.”
John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, did a wonderful segment prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in which he exposed FIFA for essentially being nothing more than a bunch of thugs who have used bribery to handpick the location of the FIFA World Cup. At the time, many fans were shocked to find out the detailed corruption that may have been occurring behind the scenes, but it is now clear that Oliver’s investigating tactics opened our eyes to what had been a nasty party of the business for the past 20 years.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.