Warner resigns from all Fifa posts

Warner, the longest-serving member of Fifa's executive committee, had been suspended pending the outcome of a bribery inquiry. Fifa said the ethics committee procedures against him "have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained". Fifa released a statement today which read: "Jack A. Warner has informed Fifa about his resignation from his posts in international football. "Fifa regrets the turn of events that have led to Mr Warner's decision. "His resignation has been accepted by world football's governing body, and his contribution to international football and to Caribbean football in particular and the Concacaf confederation are appreciated and acknowledged. "Mr Warner is leaving Fifa by his own volition after nearly 30 years of service, having chosen to focus on his important work on behalf of the people and government of Trinidad & Tobago as a Cabinet Minister and as the Chairman of the United National Congress, the major party in his country's coalition government. "The Fifa executive committee, the Fifa president and the FIifa management thank Mr Warner for his services to Caribbean, Concacaf and international football over his many years devoted to football at both regional and international level, and wish him well for the future. "As a consequence of Mr Warner's self-determined resignation, all ethics committee procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained." Warner and fellow Fifa member Mohamed Bin Hammam were suspended last month after they were accused of giving or offering bribes of 40,000 US dollars to the 25 members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The total sum involved was 1million US dollars according to a report to the Fifa ethics committee. Affidavits sent to the ethics committee testify that Warner told the CFU members at the special meeting in Trinidad on May 10 and 11 the cash had been provided by Bin Hammam, who was then running for Fifa president. Bahamas FA vice-president Fred Lunn said he had been given the cash in a brown envelope which he photographed before returning. Lunn said in his affidavit that the following day "Mr Warner stated that he had instructed Mr Bin Hammam to bring the cash equivalent of any gift he had intended to bring for the people attending this meeting. "Mr Warner then stated that the money could be used for any purpose... for grassroots programs or any purpose the individuals saw fit." The president of the Surinam FA, Louis Giskus, also confirmed earlier this month that he was given 40,000 US dollars in a brown envelope as a gift. A number of other associations have told investigators that they too were given the cash. Some kept it, others returned the money.