LOS ANGELES: A candidate for the scandal-tainted governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) has been barred from running for the organization’s presidency following a background check by FIFA, a statement said Tuesday.
Antigua and Barbuda official Gordon Derrick had been seeking election to the presidency of CONCACAF, which has been at the heart of the global corruption scandal engulfing world football since May last year.
Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, said in a statement Derrick was being barred from running for office after an investigation.
“The Audit and Compliance Committee has concluded that one candidate, Mr.Gordon Derrick from Antigua & Barbuda, could not be admitted as a candidate for the office of CONCACAF President nor FIFA vice president nor the FIFA Council,” Scala said.
“For privacy reasons we are not in a position to go into further details with regard to this decision. The person concerned has been informed.”
The statement was issued shortly after CONCACAF published a statement announcing candidates for various positions within the organization.
Derrick, who had announced his intention to run for president earlier this year, was not included in the list of candidates, which now comprises just two men, Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani and Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden.
The CONCACAF presidency has become the poisoned chalice of football governance.
Three of the most recent CONCACAF presidents are facing corruption allegations.
Long-time CONCACAF President Jack Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago, is currently fighting against extradition to the United States after being indicted for racketeering and conspiracy.
Jeffrey Webb, who succeeded Warner, pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud last year after being extradited from Switzerland.
Webb’s replacement Alfredo Hawit was also charged. He appeared in a New York court on Monday and pleaded guilty to four criminal charges, including racketeering and wire fraud in connection with the FIFA scandal.
CONCACAF hopeful barred from election after FIFA ethics check
CONCACAF hopeful barred from election after FIFA ethics check
Dubai Basketball edge Milan to secure EuroLeague victory
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball strengthened their home-court reputation with a 99-92 win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Round 18 of the EuroLeague at Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday, cheered on by more than 5,000 fans.
The hosts made a fast start and immediately imposed themselves at both ends of the floor. Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele and Serbian big man Filip Petrusev controlled the paint early, creating close-range scoring opportunities and forcing Milan into defensive adjustments. With McKinley Wright IV and Dwayne Bacon adding pace and penetration, Dubai surged into a double-digit lead and dictated the tempo of the opening quarter.
Milan struggled to settle and spent much of the first period on the back foot, as Dubai’s advantage stretched to 15 points. Although the visitors steadied themselves as the quarter progressed, the early deficit proved costly.
Dubai head coach Jurica Golemac praised the impact of the home crowd after the game, saying: “Congratulations to the fans. We were missing them for sure in the last home game, and they helped us a lot. In the first quarter, we played one of our best quarters this season. The next game is at home in three days, so there is no time to rest too much. We need to prepare for that game first. We are not thinking three games ahead — we prepare for every game and try to win every game.”
Milan showed improved rhythm in the second quarter, but Dubai responded before the break. Bacon punished defensive lapses from beyond the arc, while Kabengele finished strongly inside to help the hosts take a seven-point lead into halftime.
The final period was defined by composure rather than flair. Milan threatened to draw level on several occasions, but missed free throws and execution errors halted their momentum. Bacon sealed the outcome from the free-throw line in the final two minutes, pushing Dubai back into a double-digit advantage and closing out the contest.
Bacon led all scorers with 25 points, while Wright recorded 19 points and nine assists. Kabengele added 17 points, and Petrusev contributed 13 points and seven rebounds. For Milan, Guduric topped the scoring with 11 points, alongside seven rebounds and seven assists.
Dubai Basketball now turn their attention to the ABA League, where they remain unbeaten. The team return to Coca-Cola Arena to face Slovenia’s KRKA in Round 12 of the competition.
