The Press

Former Fifa boss sucked in by Onion gag

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Former Fifa vice president Jack Warner has renewed his criticism of the United States, where he faces corruption charges, by releasing videotaped comments – partly based on a story by satirical website The Onion.

‘‘This past week has been a most trying one for me, a most difficult one,’’ Warner said.

Yesterday in particular wasn’t easy, when Warner attempted to get his message across by citing a fictitious story from The Onion bearing the headline: ‘‘FIFA Franticall­y Announces 2015 Summer World Cup In United States’’.

The fake story was published on Wednesday, hours after Warner was indicted in the US and arrested and briefly jailed in Trinidad. Warner asked why the story was ‘‘two days before the Fifa election’’ when Sepp Blatter was re-elected as president.

In an eight-minute Facebook video, which was quickly deleted after numerous news reports picked up on the gaffe, he asked ‘‘if Fifa is so bad why is it the US wants . . . the World Cup?’’

The Onion ran the spoof about how ‘‘frantic and visibly nervous’’ Fifa officials held an impromptu news conference after the corruption charges were filed to award the World Cup to America, beginning May 27.

‘‘At press time, the US national team was leading defending cham- pions Germany in the World Cup’s opening match after being awarded 12 penalties in the game’s first three minutes,’’ The Onion reported.

Warner might wish he had checked his sources. The next World Cup is not until 2018.

Additional­ly, Warner said that Fifa is ‘‘the very same organisati­on they (the US) are accusing of being corrupt. That has to be double standards’’.

He also told followers that the latest accusation­s against him stem largely from the US being upset that it did not win the rights to host the 2022 World Cup – which went to Qatar.

‘‘I could understand the US embarrassm­ent that a small country as Qatar . . . could have been able to overcome them this way,’’ Warner said.

‘‘I could understand but no one gives them the right to do what they are doing.’’

Warner also used to video to thank supporters. He said a number have reached out in recent days since the latest scandal broke.

‘‘At the end of the day, all the allegation­s against me will be proven to be unfounded,’’ he said. ‘‘I have no cause to worry.’’

The video was later reposted without the reference to the Onion article. Warner has remained in the spotlight in Trinidad for the past several days, making several appearance­s and continuing in his role as a member of Parliament. He has more public appearance­s scheduled for this week in Trinidad.

 ??  ?? Jack Warner shows off a printout from an online satirical magazine, believing it to be true.
Jack Warner shows off a printout from an online satirical magazine, believing it to be true.

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