Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Disgraced former FIFA Vice-President Austin “Jack” Warner is implicated in yet another controversy surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Warner and his sons were allegedly paid close to $2 million from a company owned by former Qatari FIFA official Mohammed Bin Hamman, according to a report by The Telegraph. The payments came in December 2010, just two weeks after Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
The report adds that FBI agents are currently investigating Warner, with the help of his son Daryan, who lives in Miami. The FBI has been looking into this case since March 2013.
Warner, a former CONCACAF President, has previously been accused of offering and accepting bribes, withholding bonuses from the Trinidad and Tobago national team, embezzlement, and many other cases of fraud. Warner is currently a member of parliament in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
Qatar’s World Cup local organizing committee has declared its innocence, claiming that it complied with all of FIFA’s rules during the bidding process.
Here are some more stories to kick off your Tuesday:
MOYES LOSING SUPPORT IN MAN UNITED BOARD
With every disappointing Manchester United result, flames fan the hot seat on which David Moyes sits.
As Man United head into their UEFA Champions League match against Olympiakos, needing to overcome a 2-0 deficit, Moyes is beginning to lose his support from on the board of directors, according to a report in ESPN FC. The report states that Moyes still has the backing of the Glazer family, which owns the club, but they’re more open to the idea of making a change in manager.
Moyes was picked by Sir Alex Ferguson to take over for the legendary manager following the 2012-2013 season. However, United has struggled to impress this season and currently sit in seventh place in the English Premier League, 18 points behind first place Chelsea.
United fell, 3-0, to archrivals Liverpool last Sunday.
MESSI’S AGENT ASKING FOR NINE FIGURE CONTRACT EXTENSION
Barcelona and Lionel Messi’s representatives have begun to discuss the Argentine’s seventh new contract with the club, and the initial request from Messi’s side would put him among the richest athletes in the world.
Multiple reports in Spain state that Messi’s representatives are asking for a net salary of 25 million euros ($35 million) per season for five years. Due to Spanish tax laws, that would require Barcelona to spend an extra 25 million euros per year, meaning the Catalan side would be on the hook for 250 million euros over the course of the contract.
Messi most recently signed a deal in December 2012 for a contract through June 2018. The 26-year-old has returned from multiple hamstring and thigh problems in 2014 and hit the ground running, scoring 15 goals in all competitions since Jan. 1.
QUICK KICKS
Barcelona have denied reports that manager Gerardo Martino will leave the club in June. (REPORT)
The Spanish club however did announce the extension of defender Marc Bartra through June 2017. (REPORT)
Former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has signed a two-year deal to take over Zenit St. Petersburg. (REPORT)
AC Milan have received a huge boost with news that Stephen El-Shaarawy set to return in April. (REPORT)
Cagliari owner Massimo Cellino has been fined 600,000 euros by an Italian court for tax evasion. (REPORT)
The FA is expected to reject Hull City owner Assem Allam’s request to change the name to Hull Tigers. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Surprised to hear a report on Warner allegedly accepting a payment from a Qatari official? Not surprised to hear about it? How do you see this affecting the 2022 World Cup? Do you see Moyes surviving through the end of the season?
Share your thoughts below.