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Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner pleads innocence

Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner insists that he is innocent after being indicted on corruption charges.

Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has pleaded his innocence after being indicted on corruption charges.

Warner and a number of FIFA officials were charged by US authorities on Wednesday in relation to racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud.

A separate corruption investigation has been opened by Swiss prosecutors into the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which are due to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively.

However, Warner has distanced himself from FIFA and the latest corruption scandal that has engulfed the organisation, claiming that he is now only focused on politics in his native Trinidad and Tobago.

The 57-year-old resigned from FIFA in 2011 after being suspended over bribery allegations. His departure cleared him of any wrongdoing during the organisation's internal investigation into the matter.

"My attention has been drawn to certain developments in world football which started several hours ago and is at the present time still ongoing," the 72-year-old said in a statement.

"It has been reported that a number of FIFA officials have been arrested in Switzerland and that at least one raid conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigators in Miami is being executed at what I presume to be CONCACAF offices. My name is being reported by international media as being one of those persons sought in connection with the probe.

"The people of Trinidad and Tobago will know that I quit FIFA and international football more than four years ago and that over the past several years I have recommitted my life to the work of improving the lot of every citizen of every creed and race in this nation. I have fought fearlessly against all forms of injustice and corruption.

"I have been afforded no due process and I have not even been questioned in this matter. I reiterate that I am innocent of any charges. I have walked away from the politics of world football to immerse myself in the improvement of lives in this country where I shall, God willing, die.

"The actions of FIFA no longer concern me. I cannot help but note however that these cross-border coordinated actions come at a time when FIFA is assembled for elections to select a President who is universally disliked by the international community. At times such as this it is my experience that the large world powers typically take actions to affect world football. World football is an enormous international business. That is no longer my concern. My sole focus at this stage of my life is on the people of Trinidad and Tobago."

Friday's FIFA presidential election is still expected to go ahead, with Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein standing as the sole challenger to current president Sepp Blatter.

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