Forensic audit into CFU…CONCACAF queries ‘secret’ bank account

Jul 18, 2016 Sports

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With one week to go before the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Presidential Elections, there is word that CONCACAF has instituted a forensic audit into the financial affairs of CFU, and has gone one step by suspending grants to the Caribbean body.
The incumbent CFU President Gordon Derrick, of Antigua, is facing stiff competition from Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) President David John Williams, and Hillaren Frederick, President of the United States Virgin Islands Football Association.

The elections take place on July 23 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Miami and all 31 member associations will attend.
During its audit, CONCACAF has found a secret bank account in the name of CFU Inc. registered in Antigua, where CONCACAF funding has been deposited. CONCACAF only recognises CFU, registered in Jamaica, where is the headquarters of the CFU.
The turmoil in world football has caused world and regional bodies to take stock in how they do business, especially financial affairs. With disgraced FIFA President Sepp Blatter banned from football, and criminal proceedings against a number of world football officials, including the Caribbean’s Jack Warner and Jeffrey Webb, soccer confederations are taking no chances.
CONCACAF and CFU were plunged into crisis in 2011 when their President, Jack Warner, resigned from all forms of football for his role in the cash-for-votes scandal at the Hyatt Hotel in Trinidad. Warner had distributed US $40,000 in envelopes to CFU members for the support for FIFA Presidential candidate, Mohamed Bin Hammam.
Before FIFA could deal with its suspended vice-president, Warner resigned without going through a trial. He stepped down from being CONCACAF and CFU President. In 2013, former Barbados jurist Sir David Simmons published a damning report on the financial affairs which implicated Warner in wrongdoing.
It came as no surprise in 2015 when the United States requested Warner’s extradition to face trial on charges of corruption, among other things. While many soccer officials have agreed to go to New York to face the charges, Warner is resisting extradition in Trinidad.
Following Warner’s departure, Gordon Derrick, former general secretary of the Antigua Football Association, was voted as President of CFU on May 22, 2012. But his stewardship has now come under focus from CONCACAF’s general secretary, Ted Howard.
In a letter dated March 10, 2016 to Derrick, Howard wrote: “As you know, CONCACAF has been implementing additional financial controls and audit procedures over the past several months as part of its overall reform efforts.
“Part of the reforms CONCACAF has implemented includes the closer monitoring and auditing of payments made to all CONCACAF constituents to ensure proper management of financial resources. As is the case of FIFA’s disbursements of FAP and GOAL Project funds, all disbursements to its member associations and unions must comply with these controls and audit procedures.”
Howard stated that in order to properly assess the CFU’s financial situation, CONCACAF will do the following, among other things:
1) CONCACAF will conduct a comprehensive review of CFU’s financial situation and outlook for 2016. This will consist of analysing financial statements and other documents to map out current reserves/debts, all regular/extraordinary expenses, all revenue sources, outstanding payables and receivables, as well as an audit of the funds previously loaned to the CFU by CONCACAF;
2) After such review, CONCACAF will develop a financial plan with the CFU to stabilize its current challenges. The plan include a review of on-going support, host agreements, expense management, and other actions to ensure sustainability of the CFU if implemented accordingly;
3) CONCACAF will work with CFU to execute this plan;
4) CONCACAF will receive from CFU monthly detailed reporting, and;
5) CONCACAF and CFU will hold quarterly meetings to make any necessary adjustments to the action plan and report on progress back to both CONCACAF and CFU Committees.
Howard continued, “As part of the review described above, CONCACAF must obtain from CFU information about the disposition of CONCACAF funds by CFU. It has come to our attention upon a review of our financial records that the monthly payments of US $45,000 CONCACAF has made for the benefit of CFU for support of its administrative and overhead expenses, is now being made to an account that is not in the name of the CFU. Rather, the account into which the payments are being made is to a different entity called “the Caribbean Football Union Inc”.
Howard has asked for all the documents relating to CFU Inc and the secret bank account.
In his letter, Howard advised Derrick that he (Derrick) must preserve, “and may not delete or destroy, any and all documents relating to the CFU and CFU Inc.”
Howard ended, “Until this matter is resolved, CONCACAF will suspend payments to the CFU. However, CONCACAF has been paying the CFU travel agency directly for bookings made by the CFU-related events. These payments have never been suspended, and CONCACAF will continue to make such payments to the CFU’s travel agency.”
Howard indicated that CONCACAF would pay directly to CFU staff.

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