The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has written to its parent body FIFA distancing its self from media comments made by the embattled former FIFA vice president Austain Jack Warner on Monday and Tuesday.
In its letter to FIFA and addressed FIFA's Secretary General Fatma Samoura, the TTFA through its newly elected president William Wallace wrote: " Dear Madame General Secretary and Friend, Greetings from the newly elected officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, it is with the greatest concern as the newly elected President of the TTFA, I write to communicate to FIFA our rejection of claims being made within Trinidad and Tobago and as well in the International press that the new TTFA administration has come into office with the support of former FIFA vice president Austin Jack Warner.
This narrative was spread by parties unknown prior to the TTFA elections of Sunday 24, November 2019, and has grown in intensity since that date. This rumor has gained traction in major part due to the unsolicited support and comments of the former FIFA vice president in the Trinidad and Tobago media
On behalf of the officers of the TTFA and myself I assure you, the president and members of FIFA, that there has been, is not, and never will be a connection between the former FIFA vice president going forward from Sunday 24, November 2019."
Meanwhile, during one of his media interviews Warner said, "When I was there, this country went to seven World Cups—two U-20, two U-17 boys, two U-17 girls and a FIFA Cup in Germany—so if I was a bad man, whatever I was doing, we went to a World Cup seven times.
"Let there be more bad men like Jack Warner. In 2005, when we qualified, this country has never been united like that so if I am a 'bad man' then let 'bad men' run football."
Speaking on Isports Tuesday on i95.5fm with Andre Errol Baptiste, the former FIFA vice-president said that he was has been involved in football in many areas locally and internationally and was widely accredited with ensuring that T&T was able to qualify for its first and only World Cup in 2006.
On Sunday, at the T&T Football Association's (TTFA) annual general meeting (AGM) William Wallace was elected as president by the delegates, defeating the incumbent David John-Williams 26-20.
Warner said, "I am surprised that Wallace did not get more votes because I think that David John-Williams misunderstood, FIFA and CONCACAF colleagues and even the Prime Minister, is that football is on the field of play. People want to see results, they want to see successes, sponsors want to come in and you could build a house of football four times in one year, that does not equate to success on the field of play."
Responding to Wallace announcement about shutting down of the 'Home of Football' he said, "The reasons given for that was to do an audit of the football house and to make sure that nothing is lost in the transition and that the closure is temporary. If those are the reasons, I have no problem with that, but it must never be treated like the Couva’s Children hospital."
Warner said, "I am biased against those who have killed football, I am biased against those who have taken this country to 147th in the rankings, I am biased against those who sit quietly by and allow CONCACAF to kill World Cup football qualification by having an elitist format. I am against those things and more."
The former FIFA vice president who is banned from the sport for life by FIFA said, "Time will tell, I am not going to make any prejudgment on Keith Look Loy and how he operates or Anthony Harford or anybody else. Time will tell, I know guys who were one way before and election, even in politics and once they get into position, they are different, positively or negatively so let us wait and see and not make any prejudgment."
Warner believes that Dennis Lawrence should remain in the job but an overseas coach brought to work with him and that the government of the day can fund the exercise. He was though clear about another matter, warning FIFA and CONCACAF.
Responding to an article written stating that Jack Warner is influencing William Wallace United team, Warner said, "I am dismissive of that, and I am saying if even that was the case, and it means, and by the way, that is not the case, and it means that is the beginning of the way to lift football in the country so be it, what’s wrong with that, I have been in football for 30 years at the international level and I still believe that anybody who wants to ask me something in football, I must answer them and advise them, if they come to me yes, if not so be it.
"I know that they are petty enough to do that, FIFA and CONCACAF as well, but if they do that, it will be the beginning of the end for both of them, if they are spiteful especially CONCACAF and go after the administration here, I swear to you today they will not last four years, neither of them. There will be a price they have to pay, take that at my word."