FINAL STATEMENT
By letter dated June 17, 2011, and effective on that date - as confirmed by the world football governing body - I resigned the positions I had long held as FIFA Vice President, President of CONCACAF and President of the Caribbean Football Union.
This decision is by my own volition and self-determination; albeit it comes during the sequel to the contentious Mohammed bin Hammam meeting in Port of Spain in May with CFU Delegates.
I am convinced, and I am advised by Counsel, that since my actions did not extend beyond facilitating the meeting that gave Mr. bin Hammam an opportunity to pursue his aborted bid for the FIFA presidency, I would be fully exonerated by any objective arbiter.
I have, nonetheless, arrived at the decision to withdraw from FIFA affairs in order to spare FIFA, CONCACAF and, in particular, CFU and its membership, from further acrimony and divisiveness arising from this and related issues.
I am gratified that FIFA has acknowledged my service to international and regional football over several decades.
It is also a special source of satisfaction to me that during my tenure, capacities and facilities in the Caribbean were upgraded to levels that enabled the region to host several FIFA World Cup Finals.
I sincerely hope that the Caribbean Football Union will continue to fight above its weight in FIFA and CONCACAF affairs.
With my withdrawal from service in international football, I shall, henceforth, be concentrating exclusively on my lifelong commitment to the service of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, currently as Chairman of the major party in our governing coalition and as a Cabinet Minister in the Government of our Republic.
I shall continue to encourage the youth of the Caribbean and the world to deepen their involvement in football, which has lifted so many young people out of hopelessness and risk to personal achievement, while bringing glory to their respective countries.
Respectfully submitted
Jack Warner | June 20, 2011
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