The English-speaking Caribbean needs Austin “Jack” Warner back at the helm of CONCACAF.
Otherwise, we will more than likely be eating only the crumbs left on the table, as in days of yore when the Central Americans were in charge of the hemispheric grouping.
I am not oblivious to the fact that the suspended Warner is facing an investigation over alleged bribery charges. In any event, he is innocent until proven guilty.
I believe there may be a plan to effect an ideological change in CONCACAF that would disadvantage countries like Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
Three incidents in the current unrest have led me to this conclusion.
First, it has to be more than mystifying why American Chuck Blazer, CONCACAF’s long-serving general secretary, would seek to see Warner fall when he walked with him before through thick and thin and the two were seen as peas in a pod.
Secondly, why was the decision of then acting president Lisle Austin to fire Blazer overturned when the constitution confirms that he was in his right to do so?
Thirdly, why would another committee within CONCACAF without any constitutional or legal right then fire Austin?
And it should be noted that in all of this blood-letting, the sport’s governing body, FIFA, has not said a single word on these burning issues.
Newly re-elected FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been as mum as a lamb, too, and this may just be a sign of the thickening plot to shift the balance of power back to Central and North America.
With Blatter serving his last term, it might now be expedient for him to break any binding chains he had with Warner.
He doesn’t need him any more to secure votes for him.
Still, it was very ironic that Warner urged Caribbean Football Union members to vote for Blatter in what turned out to be a one-man election in Switzerland a fortnight ago, even though the two were visibly at war.
Honestly, I first thought it was mere grandstanding and a bit of politicking because if Warner was said to be in cahoots with Mohamed bin Hamman, why would he back Blatter in the election?
That stance might very well be a key factor in the investigation against Warner.
Once again, I am stating emphatically that I am not casting judgement on the Trinidadian cabinet minister one way or the other, but I think it is perceived that it will be easier to have that power shift if Warner were not at the helm of CONCACAF.
Warner is a perennial warrior and I am sure that what they did to Lisle Austin, they never would have tried with him. All hell would have broken loose. Warner is a feared man who wields plenty power and has done so for more than two decades.
His detractors may think he has been there too long. I know there are those in CONCACAF who believe that he gives most of the FIFA assistance to Trinidad and Jamaica, although no hardcore evidence has been produced to support this claim.
Under Warner’s leadership, additional opportunities have been created that gave Caribbean countries a chance to qualify for the World Cup – Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, for instance.
We have also benefited from the Goal Project – more training programmes for coaches and administrators and more duties for officials such as referees and match commissioners at international games.
The Gold Cup is also his invention and this allows for greater exposure at international level.
Plus, women’s football in the region is set to take off in a very big way.
I won’t commit myself to say that these developments wouldn’t have occurred under the stewardship of someone other than Warner, but the proof is there that they have with him as the driver so credit must be given where it is due.
Jack Warner has been good for the Caribbean as the head of CONCACAF. I think he still has a big role to play in our football development.