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Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner reveals he purchased World Cup TV rights for $1
The Caribbean businessman has stated that he bought the rights to broadcast world football's biggest competition for the minimal fee in return of supporting Sepp Blatter in 1998
Dec 29, 2011 3:40:00 PM
By Luke Matthews
Getty Images
Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner has confirmed that he purchased television rights for his native Trinidad and Tobago for one dollar, in return for supporting Sepp Blatter in his successful election as leader of world football's governing body in 1998, according to Bloomberg.
Warner revealed in a statement that he purchased the rights to broadcast the World Cup in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 via a Mexican company, eventually selling them on to gain revenue to help develop football in the Caribbean.
The 68-year-old resigned from his role within FIFA in the summer after being embroiled in the alleged bribery scandal that also saw fellow vice president, Mohamed bin Hammam receive a life ban from football.
The two men allegedly offered Caribbean officials 28,000 euros in cash to support Bin Hammam's presidential campaign against Blatter.
After his 30-year association with FIFA came to an end, Warner promised to reveal a number of revelations involving world's football governing body.
FIFA usually sells TV rights directly to broadcasters yet Warner's admission throws further doubt into the legitimacy of FIFA's actions.
The footballing authority is yet to release an official statement on the matter yet Bloomberg state that in an email, FIFA have said it will "look into" the comments.
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Warner revealed in a statement that he purchased the rights to broadcast the World Cup in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 via a Mexican company, eventually selling them on to gain revenue to help develop football in the Caribbean.
The 68-year-old resigned from his role within FIFA in the summer after being embroiled in the alleged bribery scandal that also saw fellow vice president, Mohamed bin Hammam receive a life ban from football.
The two men allegedly offered Caribbean officials 28,000 euros in cash to support Bin Hammam's presidential campaign against Blatter.
After his 30-year association with FIFA came to an end, Warner promised to reveal a number of revelations involving world's football governing body.
FIFA usually sells TV rights directly to broadcasters yet Warner's admission throws further doubt into the legitimacy of FIFA's actions.
The footballing authority is yet to release an official statement on the matter yet Bloomberg state that in an email, FIFA have said it will "look into" the comments.
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