Frederick escapes sanction in FIFA probe

| 16/10/2011

(CNS): David Frederick’s decision to resign from official football duties has saved him from any potential fallout regarding the proceedings opened by FIFA’s ethics committee in August against several Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials. The sport’s world governing body announced the details of the investigations on Friday and stated that the cases involving David Frederick (Cayman Islands) and Joseph Delves (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) were closed since they are no longer football officials but should they return to football official positions, their cases would be examined again by the committee, FIFA said in a release. (Photo courtesy of Cayman27)

The proceedings had been opened in regard to apparent violations of the Code of Ethics related to the special meeting of the CFU held in Port of Spain Trinidad & Tobago on 10 and 11 May this year and a number of football officials from the region have been fined or banned. It was alleged that at the meetings FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam handed out bribes to Caribbean members of CONCACAF, the regional body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Several officials described receiving brown envelopes containing $40,000 in cash.

Former Asian soccer chief Bin Hammam has since been banned for life by FIFA but has protested his innocence, along with ex-CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago.

Following the investigations of regional officials, Horace Burrell of Jamaica, and the owner of the Captains Bakery, has been banned for a period of six months from taking part in any football-related activity but the committee decided to suspend three months of the ban, subject to a probationary period of two years. 

Meanwhile, Franka Pickering from the British Virgin Islands received the highest fine of CHF500 (US$560) and was banned for a period of 18 months from taking part in any football-related activity.

Several other regional officials were banned for varying periods and fined CHF300, some were reprimanded and fined and five officials received warnings.

Felix Ledesma form the Dominican Republic was the only official who was considered not to have committed any violation and the hearing of Noel Adonis from Guyana was postponed.

The officials also stated that more information was required in the case of Patrick Mathurin from St. Lucia and a decision was taken about him by the committee.

Last month, Colin Klass, president of the Guyana FA was given a 26-month ban for his involvement in the May meeting. These latest decisions came one week ahead of a FIFA executive committee meeting where Blatter is expected to give an update on the fight against corruption in Football’s governing body.

See FIFA  release

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I don't really care who did what and whether Fredrick took the fall for others or not.

    I think it is disgusting all the way around that nobody nowadays is part of any organization, board etc. with any good intention. It is all just to take advantage and milk the system for all it is worth. Absolutely disgusting! And then they have the nerve to turn around and wonder why players don't feel motivated to show up to training and why the youth nowadays turns out to be the way they are. Well, what do you expect, really?!?!?! Look at the pathetic examples we are giving them all the way around!

  2. Karl Heinz Rubberknickers says:

    Where is the public statement from Mr. Frederick?  Are we just meant to draw our own inferences from his resignation?

  3. Anon says:

    CFA announced that they had not accepted the cash gift but had in fact returned it. So what was Fredrick's being investigated for?????? Something does not appear correct. There were other associations that indicated that they did not accept/returned the gift and none of their officials appears to have been investigated. Seems like the whole CFA management should resign and new elections should be held.

    • Spirit of 66 says:

      Isn't accepting the "cash gift" in the first place a big no-no regardless of whether it is given back when it becomes public?

  4. Anonymous says:

    This culture of corruption in world soccer has to stop. XXXX

     

    This whole idea of ceasing an investigation because somebody resigns stinks.  It is a protection clause that the corrupt people running the organisation have put in to save themselves. 

     

    This is a global problem.  The idea is that senior football executives all around the world do everything they can to get money from the system, even if it means selling their votes and influence.  If it looks like they are going to get caught they just resign – no questions asked.

    • Lazarus says:

      This was never a police investigation, just an investigation over ethics and proper behaviour.  If you are a member of a group, then you have to abide by the rulings of that group.  If you decide to leave that group, the group has no further jurisdiction over you.  So if David left CIFA, FIFA would have further control over his actions and could impose no sanctions other than a suspension or banning order in regards to any return to the group.

      I've known David quite a few years and there's not a corrupt bone in his body.  All I can think of is that he's taking the fall for others, or has made a stupid mistake.

      Everyone knows who the 3 big dogs are when it comes to Caribbean football.  One left football, one has been fined, and the other found a scapegoat.

      • Anonymous says:

        This is not just about one person.  If an organization is investigating unethical behavior or transactions they have every right to keep investigating even after a person resigns.  Of course they would only do this if they actually cared about rooting out the corruption.  If they investigated they would be able to figure out how the unethical acts happen and perhaps build controls to stop future violations.  You are right that they wouldnt be able to sanction the individual but they would become a better & less corrupt group going forward.

         

        These are not casual groups like your weekend dominos club.  FIFA in all of its various permutations controls billions of dollars in annual TV revenues as well as decides which countries get to hold world cups.  A world cup can be an incredible stimulus to a country in terms of exposure, jobs and tourist revenue.  Having such a corrupt system figuring out here all of this power and money is allocated is not right.

  5. Anonymous says:

    disgraceful by all involved…….

  6. Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

    Its not Dave Frederick that should be investigated in Cayman Football!

    Was it not Warner who caused all these investigations, well investigate his close associates!

  7. Anonymous says:

    It sure would be nice to know if the president of CIFA told Frederick to be pious and return the gift.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/8820948/Former-Fifa-vice-president-Jack-Warner-is-caught-on-tape-offering-gifts-of-25000-to-Caribbean-delegates.html

    I guess its back to "our business is our business". lol.

  8. Jonah Principlr says:

    What big joke. FIFA has demonstrated it will always protect it’s own. What a shame

  9. The Chickens Have Come to Roost..... says:

    Are we now to understand that if you distance yourself from said Association that you become absolved of any further investigation?? Wow!!! The UK introduced The Bribery Act in July. The Cayman Islands as an overseas territority falls under the jurisdiction of that law. Mr. Fredericks perhaps you should seek legal counsel in regards to this law because as it is looking now………if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck………..

  10. Anonymous says:

    Meanwhile the real villains continue to run the sport.

    It's time FIFA was thoroughly investigated from the top down.

    This was a crude attempt to divert attention from the real problems by picking on people who couldn't defend themselves.

  11. Dred says:

    Shame Shame

  12. Dada Poo says:

    Poor old David taking the fall for others who remain smug and confidant that nothing will happen to them.Captain Burrell suspension for 6 months for failing to cooperate with investigators says it all corruption still stains CFA.