Australian police to look into FFA-Warner dealings

Police in Australia are to look into a reported $500,000 payment made to Jack Warner by Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Former FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Warner is alleged to have misappropriated the funds from the FFA, which insists the payment was made as part of mandatory bidding criteria for the 2022 World Cup, eventually awarded to Qatar.

The FFA has previously denied any wrongdoing and said the payment was supposed to fund a feasibility study for a ‘centre of excellence’ project in the Caribbean.

But Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed it had been contacted by a former senior member of Australia’s bid team, Bonita Mersiades, and independent senator Nick Xenophon asking it to investigate the matter.

“The AFP can confirm it has been contacted… and asked to provide advice in relation to this matter,” it said. “The AFP will assess the letters and provide advice in due course.”

Warner was one of nine past and present FIFA officials arrested on Wednesday following a corruption probe by American authorities.