London, June 1 (IANS) The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) was divided over its secretary-general Chuck Blazer, whistle-blower in the FIFA bribery scandal, whose revelations led to the provisional suspension of their president Jack Warner.
CONCACAF’s acting president Lisle Austin on the eve of FIFA Congress in Zurich Wednesday, in a letter to Blazer, who is a FIFA executive member, said the regional body was terminating his contract as the secretary general.
But the CONCACAF executive board came out in support of Blazer, saying the letter from Austin was unauthorised and the decision to sack the American was taken without any authority.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Austin in his letter said he considered Blazer had ‘grossly insulted and defamed’ Caribbean associations by stating ‘that each member association was under investigation for bribery’.
In his letter, Austin also said that Blazer had ‘improperly appointed five non-elected members of Concacaf to congress’.
Austin went on to add that Blazer had no authority to hire Chicago-based lawyers Collins and Collins to collect information for the report which led to the suspension of Warner.
‘The above conduct is inexcusable and a gross misconduct of duty and judgment. It is apparent that you are no longer fit to act as secretary general of Concacaf and to represent its members,’ the letter said.
But CONCACAF quickly reacted to it by slapping down Austin.
‘Today an unauthorised declaration was made by Lisle Austin attempting to remove Chuck Blazer as general secretary of Concacaf. This attempted action was taken without any authority. Under the Concacaf Statutes, jurisdiction over the general secretary rests solely with the Concacaf Executive Committee, which has taken no action,’ the CONCACAF said in a statement.
‘Further a majority of the Executive Committee members have advised Mr. Austin that he does not have the authority to take such action. Chuck Blazer continues as Concacaf general secretary and with the full authority of his office. The Confederation continues its normal operations, including the Gold Cup commencing on June 5th at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas,’ the statement read.
