FIFA scandal bans

Four Caribbean officials have been banned, including Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Horace Burrell, for their part in a cash-for-votes scandal in the run-up to this year’s FIFA presidential election.

The longest ban from all football-related activity, 18 months, was handed to Franka Pickering, president of the British Virgin Islands FA, who was also fined 500 Swiss francs ($560).

The cases are related to a meeting in Port of Spain on 10-11 May where it was alleged that FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam handed out bribes to Caribbean members of CONCACAF.

Former Asian football chief Bin Hammam has since been banned for life by FIFA but has protested his innocence along with ex-CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago. Warner was also under investigation by FIFA for allegedly offering bribes but resigned before the probe was completed.

Acting CFU president Burrell, a long-time Warner ally, has been banned for six months, three of which have been suspended.