GENEVA
Three journalists that turned down invitations to be part of FIFA's new Independent Governance Committee have issued a list of matters the sport's World governing body should probe to uncover the alleged corruption in the organisation.
Jens Weinreich, a freelance sports correspondent from Germany, Andrew Jennings, a Scottish television presenter, and Jean François Tanda, a Swiss reporter, outlined a series of steps they say FIFA and Blatter should take to prove they are serious about fighting corruption.
They included investigating former FIFA vice-president Austin "Jack" Warner and former CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer.
"We suggest the following crucial areas of investigation followed by rapid publication. . .," said the three journalists in a media statement.
"Investigation is long overdue into how Chuck Blazer could simultaneously be both treasurer and general secretary of CONCACAF – and the secret payment to him of US $10 million (in recent years as 'commissions'.
"Have his offshore assets come from FIFA funds – including his vintage Mercedes car registered in Zurich in FIFA's name?"
They added: "Re-open the investigation into Jack Warner and extend it to embrace every payment of any kind since 1998 to Warner, members of his family, companies owned by him including Simpaul travel agency, the CFU, CONCACAF and the João Havelange Centre of Excellence."
The three journalists were invited to partner with Swiss anti-corruption professor Mark Pieth and another journalist on the new Independent Governance Committee.
In the statement, they rejected the offer and said it was "absurd" that FIFA president Sepp Blatter was controlling the new attempts at transparency.
"[The new committee] is created by Blatter to protect him and those close to him," said the three journalists in the statement. "His pretence of a 'road map to reform' is risible."
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com