Getting past denial, dealing with CIFA
101 writes: From a global perspective, Jeff Webb is easily the most famous Caymanian in this country’s modern history. He rose to the pinnacle of one of the world’s most influential bodies. His position and global reach was to serve as a catalyst for further enhancement of Cayman’s football, and possibly an improvement in our efforts to launch so styled sports tourism. Someone to be proud of. He could be called a sort of hero.
We just lost our hero. And we are mostly in denial. Not so much ‘supportive’. In denial.
And who can blame us? The allegations contained in the US indictment is a depressing read on Mr Webb. It’s hard to believe.
Like anyone, Mr Webb deserves to be regarded as innocent until proven guilty. But we must also embrace the idea that if someone is found to stray they must also be held accountable (even heroes). Embracing that idea does not mean that we should all be labelled ‘crabs in a barrel’. It just means that we can positively hope for ‘the best’ in the courtroom while acknowledging that the ‘worse’ is something that we as a people would not tolerate.
Unfortunately, our current situation is no longer about the courtroom. That prolonged process, whether it leads to Mr Webb’s vindication or not, means next to nothing from a reputational perspective today and in the medium term. And right now its all about reputation. Reputation of Mr Webb, FIFA, CONCACAF and the Cayman Islands.
Our former Caymanian CONCACAF leader can do very little to address his own reputation until he has had his day in court. FIFA has been busy trying to preserve its reputation, first up was throwing all of the arrested under the bus and blaming everything on American geopolitics. CONCACAF sacked Mr Webb and created a ‘special committee’, and is desperately trying for the second time in three years to explain to the world that their president, who is meant to serve for 4 years, just can’t last a full term. The Cayman Islands has suffered immense reputational damage over the past week, but aside from the obligatory careful statements, very little has been done by local officials to address that.
But it’s another body that we should all have our eyes on. The one responsible for development of the ‘beautiful game’ right here in Cayman. CIFA’s reputation will surely need to be addressed going forward as local sponsors will be right in reassessing their support and wondering keenly if all is well with our local governing body.
One of the common features of organizations that are susceptible to corruption is the development of small groups of individuals who operate within a closed circle and pretty much refuse to let any new players in for as many years as sustainable. It’s a key success feature at the FIFA level, similar at the regional level and, as many of us are already acutely aware, has been a prominent feature of CIFA for many years.
CIFA must give serious consideration to restructuring the organisation, with change at the board level being the most important feature of that reorganisation. The existing executive of CIFA should be aware that persistent refusal (by the more political board members) to electioneer away any new participants will continue to raise eyebrows among us ordinary people, and there will always be a question (especially after the past few days) of whether there is indeed anything to be concerned about within a group that has faced very little change in its inner circle leadership group for far too many years.
CIFA must do this, because while CIFA itself is not facing any allegations, it runs the risk of losing whatever reputation it has left, due to rampant negative perception under the current circumstances. Simply put, if it wishes to continue to contribute to Cayman’s football development, CIFA needs to take steps to reassure us of its own integrity and reputation. And if the current executives of CIFA do not understand this most fundamental of points, frankly they should all quit tomorrow.
So go ahead, CIFA. Give us all a ‘silver lining’ in this cloud by issuing a statement on Mr Webb’s involvement with CIFA (one that hopefully gives us an impression that CIFA cares about its reputation, without incriminating Mr Webb) and initiating a process to restructure with some new faces. Taking such action would very likely bode well for new local sponsors (as well as protecting existing ones) and the development of Cayman’s youth football.
Guys there absolutely MUST be a corruption enquiry/investigation into CIFA over the years based on public interest grounds. Some official local body must do that. How do we achieve that? It cannot be overstated how critical for Cayman’s reputation as well as the governance of football that this is done, any ideas?
you would have to make a formal complaint and unless you have specific evidence of something thats not really possible. but I agree its something that needs to be done. Government gives them funding, maybe thats an angle? CIG could audit the funds it provides and see what else they come up with?
De Nial? Isn’t that a river in Prospect?
CIFA should be investigated now. Three of its current/former senior execs have been alleged with corruption. That’s enough reason for the anti corruption commission to direct that an enquiry is made regarding use of CIFA funds over the past 10 years.
The local football clubs must stop complaining about CIFA and elect a full board of new faces! You no longer need to fear these people because they don’t have any influence in the world any longer. No more perks and tickets. Cayman football officials will lose respect everywhere now and this will take years to recover.,
Heyyyyyy. Remember that Russian cargo plane that landed back in March?
Why would anyone trust CIFA now? They already had little credibility and this just made it worse.
Blatter voting junket monkeys.
Where did the $30 million go in Cayman? That’s the million dollar question???
Too busy living it up with his buddies.
“Georgia neighbours
Webb and Watson bought homes, both more than 7,500 square feet, on the same street in suburban Atlanta in 2011, according to property records. When Webb became Concacaf president the next year, he opened an office in the Cayman Islands that shared the building with Admiral Administration, a hedge-fund administrator where Watson served as managing director.
Watson also ended up on FIFA’s internal audit committee, a post once held by Webb. Watson was suspended from the audit committee after his arrest last August. He has denied the charges and is awaiting trial. He could not be located for comment.
The allegations in the indictment announced last week may indicate that Webb’s reform efforts were anything but. It states that he was arranging bribes even before he took over Concacaf….”
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/jeffrey-webb-from-blatters-heir-apparent-to-the-face-of-football-scandal
4000 a night hotel…
Buy a lot of shoes, let alone football boots for our children in the islands!
I hope they continue to name the many that’s sitting in hot seats now those of us who fail to stop corruption wait here why is it the other men names not called USA come for them all we are suffering in this island and turn the blind cheek sad. Mr. Webb its because you never share thank god its in the USA or if it was in Cayman you would never I repeat never got caught too many like you are amongst us am praying every day for corrupt Caymanians to be brought down and face justice they are many who keeping the good ones back in life.
Don’t worry @4:07pm, they’re many in people losing sleep [in Cayman]; just not knowing if they’ll be next. FIFA is only one corruption scheme among many, that have violated US violates & international (treaties) laws.
Jeff may be the most famous (or Infamous) Caymanian after this week. But certainly not before. Selita Ebanks and Frankie Flowers come to mind.
Do you think that Ms. Scotland should also step aside from CIMA?
Do you think she should have ever been appointed in the first place?
Do you think the head of CIMA should be paid more than the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve?
When we get through with CIFA can we get started with the CI Athletic Association?
Don’t forget the CIOC and the links therein to a certain bakery…….
Yo No – Can you or someone else tell me what CIOC is
The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee.
I guess it is the CI Olympics Committee, but I have no idea what they do. Probably talk about their budget allowances over a few drinks every four years.
What else is the U.S. confiscating – and where?
I’m bewildered just reading the extent of FIFA’s crimes. Here’s an extreme example of why crime – in this ‘white-collar’ crime – doesn’t pay. When caught the consequences are devastating. It’s devastating to families and the economy, but most gravely to the individual(s).
That’ why you should “do good, and good will follow you.”
Apart from replacing the board, CIFA should also require all of Webb’s appointees to CONCACAF and FIFA boards to stand down. They are there to provide a network of support for him and that network should be dismantled immediately.
Time to switch to Rugby.
At least its a mans game
It’s another old boys network. The only difference of substance are the amounts of money involved.
@Jugga Lugs, True. That’s another powerhouse of high-powered officials; and, by “officials” I am not talking referees.
Hell no, too much rubbing up going on dey…
Blatter resigns – the dominos are falling
well said. time for some different people bobo!
101 is the boss of viewpoints. This article is so on point. Lets all push for a cifa change!
Now that Costas Takkas is no longer available to act as CFO for all of those OTC penny stock companies, I wonder if the SEC is going to look at the house on Marbel Drive that he claimed as his Cayman address? This FIFA poop is going to spread wide and far.
At least they didn’t mention Cayman in the filing:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1400000/000121152415000074/exhibit991.htm
Spot on! If CIFA does not reform the local clubs must force it to do so.
Another excellent viewpoint 101. Right on the button.
The court seeks forfeiture of the following properties:
2116 Adel Drive, Loganville, Georgia 30052
5119 Madeline Place, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
7222 Lake Crossing, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087
104 Ellis Drive, Conyers, Georgia 30012
808 Brickell Key Drive, Two Tequesta Point, Condo 1204, Miami, Florida 33131
18067 NW 74th Court, Hialeah, Florida 33015
18061 NW 74th Court, Hialeah, Florida 33015
18055 NW 74th Court, Hialeah, Florida 33015
18049 NW 74th Court, Hialeah, Florida 33015
18043 NW 74th Court, Hialeah, Florida 33015
8450 SW 149th Avenue, Apartment No. 805, Miami, Florida 33193
8660 SW 149th Avenue, Apartment No. 201, Miami, Florida 33193
8660 SW 149th Avenue, Apartment No. 209, Miami, Florida 33193
There had to be something on Brickell. You just knew there had to be!
Oh, my…
Let’s get’um USA
No Cayman Properties mentioned (yet)?
I’m sure Cayman’s Grant Court, too, can expect injunction order and/or asset freeze orders from the USDOJ, if not already received.
Give it another week or so. We pon island time.
Wow. That’s alot of Real Estate in the U.S….and he manage not to acquire any in NYC, NY.
“Georgia neighbours
Webb and Watson bought homes, both more than 7,500 square feet, on the same street in suburban Atlanta in 2011, according to property records. When Webb became Concacaf president the next year, he opened an office in the Cayman Islands that shared the building with Admiral Administration, a hedge-fund administrator where Watson served as managing director.
Watson also ended up on FIFA’s internal audit committee, a post once held by Webb. Watson was suspended from the audit committee after his arrest last August. He has denied the charges and is awaiting trial. He could not be located for comment.
The allegations in the indictment announced last week may indicate that Webb’s reform efforts were anything but. It states that he was arranging bribes even before he took over Concacaf.”
– See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/jeffrey-webb-from-blatters-heir-apparent-to-the-face-of-football-scandal#sthash.Vc5H49pp.dpuf
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
…and the consequences are very unforgiving; (especially) when international matters are poised for the USDOJ and Feds to prosecute.
Hoping for the best while acknowledging that the worst is not something we cannot tolerate. Thank you for so ably capturing the national mood.
The best would be a sentence under 5 years, but they may throw the book at these guys on every one of the forty seven counts.
Not much room for error, or misunderstanding here:
“315. For the purpose of executing such scheme and artifice, the defendants JEFFREY WEBB and COSTAS TAKKAS, together with others, did transmit and cause to be transmitted, by means of wire communication in interstate and foreign commerce, writings, signs, signals, pictures, and sounds as described below:
CRIMINAL COUNT TWENTY-SIX
November 13, 2012
Wire transfer of $1,200,000 from Traffic International’s account at Delta National Bank & Trust Co. in Miami, Florida, to a correspondent account at HSBC bank in Buffalo, New York, for credit to an account in the.name of Front Company A at HSBC bank in Hong Kong.
CRIMINAL COUNT TWENTY-SEVEN
November 21, 2012
Wire transfer of $750,000 from Front Company A’s account at HSBC bank in Hong Kong, to a correspondent account at Standard Chartered Bank in New York, New York, for credit to an account in the name of Kosson Ventures at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands.
CRIMINAL COUNT TWENTY-EIGHT
November 21, 2012
Wire transfer of $250,000 from Front Company A’s account at HSBC bank in Hong Kong, to a correspondent account at Standard Chartered Bank in New York, New York, for credit to an account in the name of Kosson Ventures at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands.
325. In or about and between July 2012 and the present, both dates being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the defendants JEFFREY WEBB and AARON DAVIDSON, together with others, did knowingly and intentionally conspire to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud FIFA and CONCACAF and their constituent organizations, including to deprive FIFA and CONCACAF and their constituent organizations of their respective rights to honest and faithful services through bribes and kickbacks, and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and for the purpose of executing such scheme and artifice, to transmit and cause to be transmitted by means of wire communication in interstate and foreign commerce, writings, signs, signals, pictures, and sounds, to wit: wire transfers, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
CRIMINAL COUNT THIRTY-FOUR
February 15, 2013
Wire transfer of $3,000,000 from Traffic USA’s account at Citibank in Miami, Florida, to CONCACAF’s account at JP Morgan Chase Bank in New York, New York.
CRIMINAL COUNT THIRTY-FIVE
December 4, 2013
Wire transfer of $1,100,000 from Traffic International’s account at Delta National Bank & Trust Co. in Miami, Florida, to Q Wells Fargo correspondent account in New York, New York, for credit to an account in the name of Soccer Uniform Company A at Capital Bank in Panama City, Panama.
CRIMINAL COUNT THIRTY-SIX
December 20, 2013
Wire transfer of $3,000,000 from Traffic USA’s account at Citibank in Miami, Florida, to CONCACAF’s account at JP Morgan Chase Bank in New York, New York.”
…and on, and on, and on…
CIFA executive committee are all puppets for Webb who enjoyed all the grandiose living so it is not realistic to expect his followers Blake, Macey, Scotland, Campbell’s, Goddet, Glidden, Rankine to do anything to go against the wishes of the master or in the best interests of the sport. Time to clean house and start over.
It would be a travesty if these puppets manage to stay on the CIFA board. Terrible result for cayman football.
My question is when will Cayman society treat those people that are obviously taken on certain roles just for their own benefit as outcasts? It irritates me that you still have people sucking up to those they damn well know are ripping off anyone and everything in their way. Unless they are told to their face what people think of them so that eventually they experience shame, nothing will change. One thief just going to be replaced by another.
even these puppets are in two separate subgroups: Blake, Scotland, P Campbell and Goddet are likely in one subgroup with the others separate.
This is very true.
If you want to glimpse Webb’s inner circle, look at who has been appointed by him to various CONCACAF and FIFA boards, with free flights, hotels, per diems etc.
http://www.concacaf.com/concacaf/standing-committees
http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=cay/committee-members.html
These people are Webb’s support group – at best they ask no questions. If football, locally and internationally, wants to get rid of his influence, these people need to go.
re Horace Burrell. Thank you Anon at 3.38. A few names there from Cayman that I hadn’t linked to CIFA/CONCACAF. Nathania Pearson, Martha Godet. But one name from the various lists with a strong Caymanian connection just jumps out doesn’t it. Horace Burrell. Before the events of the past week or so it took some going for a FIFA official to get sanctioned. You really had to do something drastically wrong. Trying to usurp Sepp Blatter for example (see Jack Warner and Bin Hammam) but the good Captain wasnt rocking the FIFA boat when he got slapped on the wrist in 2011. He got sanctioned for something else – his involvement in the cash in envelopes Caribbean Football corruption scandal. Even FIFA recognised that when his involvement became public (and he didn’t walk away from football like our own recipient of $40,000.00 David Fredrick) it had to do something ! Of course, the FIFA “Ethics” Committee only gave him a derisory 6 month ban (3 of which I think was suspended) and so now he is back and back with a vengance. He appears to be either the Chairman or Vice Chairman of almost every Committee in CONCACAF, including the Finance Committee ! It beggars belief doesn’t it. It really does seem that the worse you behave, the higher up in these organisations you climb. Of course, the Capt was more than just in Jeff Webb’s support group. He’s his “business partner” (Capt’s Bakery) and perhaps was even his mentor. Enough said ? You’d like to think so but there doesnt seem to be any calls for the Capt’s head. In fact, the Gleaner is reporting that Burrell is now “the de facto head of the regional governing body” (28th May 2015) and is well placed to “benefit from the current crisis”. Unbelieveable. But these people don’t walk. They have to be pushed. When the cash for votes scandal erupted Burrell denied anyone from Jamaica, let alone him, was involved but inconveniently video evidence suggested otherwise and when he was eventually sanctioned, Burrell behaved like he was the wronged party. Staggering but then everything about FIFA/CONCACAF’s governance is staggering. I suspect that Coca Cola and Mastercard will make sure that Burrell gets the boot from FIFA but if Burrell remains in CONCACAF it will remain a joke organisation. Unfortunately, its no joke that it deals with millions of dollars (some of which is yours/ours) that should be going to places other than where its been going for the past 20 years.
Interesting line up on two crucial oversight bodies – the Audit and Compliance Committee and the Legal Committee. The presence of one name in particular pretty much spells what has been going here.
Well said10:22am. It took the USA criminal justice system to expose what a few people in the football fraternity of Cayman was willing to highlight and question these many years at the expense of being excluded from CIFA and it’s unethical running of football locally. These Esaus and others like them cannot be allowed to continue in their positions they now occupy within CIFA. We the hard working and honest people of cayman and within football must be relentless in our pursuit of removing through the democratic process these administrators from the local governing body of our National Sport.
Let’s be honest and realistic, he can only enter one plea – reading the pages of indictments, there is no hope of innocence. The die was intentionally cast long ago with deliberate attempts to conceal and layer over years. It is not a conspiracy – Webb et al did these things over and over and they’ll go away for it. We need to awaken to that certainty – it shouldn’t take “our leaders”, CIFA Exec, and “their advisors” over a week to reach the same conclusion…
Every adult in Cayman should take 5 minutes to read this:
http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/450211/download
Curious that our political leaders – both Government and Opposition – have made absolutely no official comment on this very shameful matter. Same applies to leaders of our financial industry. The fall-out is surely to be negative for Cayman.
But I wonder how many of them are quivering about the effect of the fall-out on them personally?? Bet there were many meetings with attorneys last week!!
As this unfolds, we see a lot of greed — acquiring houses while the local amenities get neglected. Wrong is wrong no matter how or why you do it, but one would have expected to see more put into local football amenities. While this would not have justified, it would have shown something of where the heart is.
Unfortunately that’s the culture..,to sit by and deny and let our problems fester until everything gets worse. They have no sense of leadership or conviction about anything unless it feeds their political self interests.
I bet some are very worried indeed! this is a decent point of view from the author as well.
They really and truly don’t have anything to say. They don’t want to say the truth, and they’re afraid that if they lie the will be caught. Stop waiting for them, they’re part of the problem.
Government or MLA involvement perhaps? Never……
Speaking of political leaders…… if Minister Scotland is still involved in CIFA what about the current Ministry of Sports and has Joel Francis (saw him involved in most sports presentations etc) been Ministry/CIFA’s policy advisor and/or would that be Director of Sports???? Trying to understand the layers we need to address here for the revamping of CIFA and who should have had oversight.
cifa is a joke…..no national team fixtures between 2011 and 2015….???????
That saved us some embarrassment for four years, but now they are making up for it.
yes CIFA has been a joke for a while but the local clubs continue to elect the same persons based on patronage (example free tickets to football events and perks etc). But this time it needs to be different: the local members of COFA need to insist that the body changes now without any delay. CIFA needs a complete clean out.
Very small islands with 55000 people. Why should we get the same as nations with 3 or 4 million people…, there we go Cayman, counting other people’s money again with little regard to facts..
A fair question. As in why does Rhode Island get two Senators? Just like California.
Amazingly and astoundingly irrelevant
A very disparate situation exists in Cayman Islands football despite Mr. Webb’s previous high stature in FIFA. While countries throughout Africa and and other regions of the world can boast of significant expenditure and improvements to their respective football programs, organizations and infrastructure under Sepp Blatter’s leadership of FIFA, Cayman football program and facilities, etc has not seen significant investment while Jeff Webb was in such a high position of influence.
How can Mr. Webb justify leaving the advancement of Cayman football aside while there existed worldwide efforts from FIFA to do just that? Not meaning to judge but the recent developments may suggest that Jeff may have focused more on his own advancement than that of Cayman football.
International news coverage shows images of a crappy piece of land with chickens instead of a centre of excellence up at prospect for which Fifa funding was given. How embarrassing….
More to the point, who owned the land sold to CIFA and for how much?
I believe it was Crown land donated to CIFA. However, under CONCACAF rules of fair play, it might have been necessary to bribe someone to get a gift.
Donated I believe
11:50am, BBC News. Sepp Blatter resigns
very good point. other countries seems to be able to show where these funds went. but we have nothing to show for it and it seems no one is being held accountable to explain. The former treasurer of CIFA is himself facing separate corruption charges in relation to the HSA. enough CIFA!
It blows my mind that the CIFA field in Red Bay apparently cost 400K and now needs to be redone to put artificial turf on it. There is no way on earth that 400K was spent on that field in the first instance. It CIFA is completely out of control. No oversight, no honor, no ethics – nothing!
There is a lovely office suite though……
the man is innocent until proven guilty. stop trying to take people down without evidence.
12:59, pull your head out the sand and read the 164 pages of evidence that everyone in the world knows about except you.
THE MAN IS GUILTY in the eyes of the United States until he can prove his innocence..Obviously you have not read the 164 page indictment against him where they have dates,times, amounts and other intricate details of his wrong doings..It is sad to see this happen yes, but the evidence is overwhelming and speaks for itself….Mr. Webbs name is called over fifty times in the document directly linking him to what the US appears to have as direct paper trail evidence along with what could be construed as phone or wiretaps of conversations of wrong doings committed while on US soil. This is all very damaging on Caymans reputation and is not going to be able to be sweep under the rug. FIFA’s president step down because he sees the writing on the wall and abandoned the ship rather than go down with his cohorts. please have a full read of the indictment. remember this is the United States Federal Government, not some penny-any local jurisdiction. To them the actions were committed on US soil,using US institutions for personal gain(you slap them in the face). If you look at US criminal justice history, the Rico Act is a very serious offense in conjunction with IRS violations, in which no individual has every escaped its punishment.
just saying
“Innocent until proven guilty” is merely a shorthand concept for presumptions in criminal proceedings. Outside of Court we are all entitled to draw conclusions from the evidence.
Coming from various soccer camps locally, is the mandate for new officials at CIFA. Itis probable that local investigations will be considered and conducted. This puts the onus on those presently serving to either resign or resoundingly decry any form of corruption within the local body, which would certainly clear the air somewhat. No doubt, being ardent followers of the Chief, it is hard for a decision to be made, but, if the sport lis to have a fighting chance the Honorable path is the resignation of the present crew.
get your facts straight. Under Webb Cayman islands has received a lot of money, considering the population we have, a lot. was it wisely used? nah…
And exactly how Webb justify staying in a $4000 a night hotel room when some of the little footballers can’t even get free water around here. Shame on all them. Many of the members used to brag about the hundreds of dollars in per diems they make on trips. Just a shame.