Warner Would ‘Rather Die’ Than Co-operate with Former FBI Chief

After FIFA vice-president Jack Warner announced his decision to resign from his post from world soccer’s governing body, along with his CONCACAF presidency, he did so due to fear of being banned for life and having his political career wrecked in the process, according to sources close to the scandal.

Twenty-four hours after Warner threw in the towel with the net closing in around him, it emerged that he would not have been able to maintain his powerful position in Caribbean politics with the case against him strengthening.

“The Ethics Committee made it clear Warner was going to lose by detailing violations of the Code of Ethics,” said one informed source who has been involved in the case from the start. 

“They went into every detail. Our understanding is that Warner actually submitted his resignation on Friday just after receiving the reasoned decision.

“Warner knew there would have been a very clear and concise guilty verdict at the end of the process. That would have caused him to be thrown out of Government.”

Warner has since stated that he would be prepared to die rather than meet with former FBI Director Louis Freeh, the man charged by the Ethics Committee with leading the full investigation.

Warner said he would be willing to help FIFA but would not speak to Freeh because of his ties to the United States from where Chuck Blazer, the CONCACAF general secretary who blew the whistle on Warner, also hails. 

“I will die first,” Warner told Bloomberg. “If FIFA wants me to cooperate I will do that but not with Freeh.”