FIFA to investigate Warner, Hammam

FIFA is to open an investigation into a possible breach of its ethics code by presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam and executive committee member Jack Warner, football's ruling body said on Wednesday.

FIFA said the investigation by its ethics committee followed a report by Chuck Blazer, another executive committee member, on "possible violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics allegedly committed by officials."

That report, which included "bribery allegations," followed a meeting at which Warner and Bin Hammam were present on May 10/11 that was linked to the June 1 presidential election.

Warner is the president of CONCACAF federation which holds 35 of the 208 votes at the FIFA Congress which on June 1 will choose between Bin Hamman and incumbent President Sepp Blatter.

"On May 24, FIFA executive committee member and CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer reported to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke possible violations of the FIFA code of ethics allegedly committed by officials," the ruling body said in a statement.

"In particular, the report referred to a special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), apparently organised jointly by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and FIFA executive committee member Mohamed bin Hammam, which took place on 10 and 11 May 2011.

"This meeting was linked to the upcoming FIFA presidential election.

"In view of the facts alleged in this report, which include bribery allegations, Jerome Valcke requested the FIFA Ethics Committee to open ethics proceedings."

FIFA said Warner and Bin Hammam had been asked to attend an ethics committee hearing in Zurich on May 29 along with Caribbean Football Union officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester.