CONCACAF hopeful barred from election after FIFA ethics check

A candidate for the scandal-tainted governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) has been barred from running for the organization's presidency following a background check by FIFA, a statement said Tuesday.

Antigua and Barbuda official Gordon Derrick had been seeking election to the presidency of CONCACAF, which has been at the heart of the global corruption scandal engulfing world football since May last year.

Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA's audit and compliance committee, said in a statement Derrick was being barred from running for office after an investigation.

"The Audit and Compliance Committee has concluded that one candidate, Mr Gordon Derrick from Antigua & Barbuda, could not be admitted as a candidate for the office of CONCACAF President nor FIFA vice-president nor the FIFA Council," Scala said.

"For privacy reasons we are not in a position to go into further details with regard to this decision. The person concerned has been informed."

The statement was issued shortly after CONCACAF published a statement announcing candidates for various positions within the organisation.

Derrick, who had announced his intention to run for president earlier this year, was not included in the list of candidates, which now comprises just two men, Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani and Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden.

The CONCACAF presidency has become the poisoned chalice of football governance.

Three of the most recent CONCACAF presidents are facing corruption allegations.

Long-time CONCACAF President Jack Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago, is currently fighting against extradition to the United States after being indicted for racketeering and conspiracy.

Jeffrey Webb, who succeeded Warner, pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud last year after being extradited from Switzerland.

Webb's replacement Alfredo Hawit was also charged. He appeared in a New York court on Monday and pleaded guilty to four criminal charges, including racketeering and wire fraud in connection with the FIFA scandal.
Source: AFP