FA GRILLED ON LINK TO BENT FIFA CHIEF
FBI ‘coming after us’
FA chiefs fear they could be dragged into the FIFA corruption probe after allegedly buttering up “wanted” Jack Warner.
Fifa’s ex-vice-president faces extradition to the US after being charged with money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud.
Warner, 72, is accused by the US Justice Department of pocketing a £6.5million bribe to vote for South Africa to stage the 2010 World Cup.
The FBI and their Swiss counterparts are probing cash-for-votes claims surrounding five World Cups.
But last night it was revealed FA officials fear they could also come under scrutiny over how they treated Warner while England were bidding to host the tournament.
Warner, from Trinidad, was guest of honour on a trip to the UK in April 2000 and the FA – which wanted to stage the 2006 World Cup – later agreed a deal to help develop football in the Caribbean.
The FA also wrote off a £135,000 debt it was owed by Warner’s pals at the Jamaican FA.
Then in 2008, as the FA prepared to bid for the 2018 World Cup, an England team captained by David Beckham played a friendly against Trinidad which raised a six-figure sum.
The FA also sponsored a £35,000 dinner for the Caribbean Football Union.
England sources insisted they did nothing wrong and said such behaviour was standard practice. But a former high-ranking insider said: “The FBI are going to come after us.’’ The FA didn’t comment. SEPP Blatter, 79, may try to stay on as Fifa president after getting support from football officials in Africa and Asia, it was claimed last night.