WASHINGTON: Disgraced former FIFA vice president Jack Warner, the Trinidad businessman banned for life from football after charges in a US corruption investigation, was joyful at the Americans ouster from the 2018 World Cup.
“I wanted to party,” Warner said in a Trinidad radio interview, according to a story on the Trinidad Express newspaper website. “I have not been in better spirits. This is the happiest day of my life.”
Warner, a former president of North American regional football group CONCACAF, was charged with wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering in a major US scandal that led to changes at FIFA and his being banned in September of last year.
So when the US squad lost 2-1 at Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday and were undone when Panama and Honduras took victories to pass them on the final table, Warner had a feeling of payback.
Warner said the Americans “reduced football in CONCACAF to a nightmare. They have used their government to help to dismember FIFA in a way that is unimaginable. And last night on the field of play Trinidad and Tobago reduced them to their knees.”
“For me personally, it has reduced the US to a laughingstock ... As far as I am concerned this is the beginning of the end for US football. Nobody in CONCACAF likes the US.”
Warner said he knew there was celebration in the United States at his downfall from football and took pleasure in seeing the US disappointing flop, the Americans missing out on their first World Cup since 1986.
“Last September 27 when the judge ruled against Jack Warner there was a party in the US, they were quite happy,” Warner said.
“Knowing that this has happened I wanted to go out and party as they partied last September when a judge ruled against me. I wanted to party. This was my personal feeling.”
Football: Ousted FIFA executive Warner rejoices in US World Cup flop
Football: Ousted FIFA executive Warner rejoices in US World Cup flop
Iraq’s hopes of qualifying for first World Cup finals in 40 years under threat amid regional conflict
- National team head coach Graham Arnold unable to leave the UAE as a result of airspace closures arising from US-Israeli war against Iran
- With many embassies across the region closed as a result of the conflict, players and support staff fear they will be unable to obtain visas they need to travel abroad for games
BEIRUT: Iraq’s hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years are threatened by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Iran responded to airstrikes by the US and Israel, which began on Saturday, by launching missiles and drones at a number of Gulf nations, many of which subsequently closed their airspace. Graham Arnold, the head coach of the Iraqi national team, is currently unable to leave the UAE because of this.
In addition, with many countries closing their embassies across the region as a result of the conflict, players and support staff fear they will not be able to obtain the visas they need to travel abroad to play.
Iraq are due to play Bolivia or Suriname in the Mexican city of Monterrey on Mar. 31 in a playoff for one of the remaining qualification places for the World Cup, which will be hosted this summer by the US, Mexico and Canada.
In a message posted on social media platform X, the Iraqi team management said discussions with FIFA continue over arrangements for the playoff given recent security developments in the Middle East.
“FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation are fully aware of every development regarding our team’s situation,” it said. “Because of airspace closures, our head coach, Arnold, is unable to leave the UAE.
“In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico.
“We assure our loyal supporters that we remain in close contact with both FIFA and the AFC, who are keeping tabs on the situation.”
If Iraq manage to qualify, they would join France, Senegal and Norway in Group I when the competition kicks off in June.
