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MIAMI (Reuters) - Deep divisions in CONCACAF were exposed on Tuesday when the confederation's acting president tried to fire general secretary and whistle-blower Chuck Blazer following allegations of bribery that have rocked world soccer.
In a letter to Blazer, Lisle Austin, who has taken over temporarily from the suspended Jack Warner as CONCACAF chief, said Blazer was "terminated as general secretary of CONCACAF with immediate effect."
Barbadian Austin is viewed as a close Caribbean ally of Warner's and the letter was distributed by a media official in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
Blazer swiftly responded with a statement issued by CONCACAF's media department in New York that said the move was "unauthorised" and that the American remained in office.
Blazer was the whistle-blower who made allegations of corruption against Caribbean soccer federations, which led to the suspension of long-standing CONCACAF president Warner, a former ally.
The American produced a report to FIFA that alleged bribes had been paid by Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam during a meeting with Caribbean federations in Port of Spain earlier this month.
Asian soccer chief Bin Hammam was at that time a candidate against incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter -- he has since withdrawn and also been provisionally suspended by FIFA's ethics committee pending an inquiry.
Earlier on Tuesday, Blazer had reported Warner to FIFA, saying that he had breached the terms of his suspension which bars him from "football activities", resulting in a strong retaliation from the Warner camp.
Austin said in the letter that he considered Blazer had "grossly insulted and defamed" Caribbean associations by stating "that each member association was under investigation for bribery."
The acting president also said Blazer had "improperly appointed five non-elected members of CONCACAF to congress."
Austin repeated that Blazer had no authority to hire Chicago-based lawyers Collins and Collins to collect information for the report which led to the suspension of Warner.
"The above conduct is inexcusable and a gross misconduct of duty and judgement. It is apparent that you are no longer fit to act as secretary general of CONCACAF and to represent its members," the letter concluded.
The subsequent CONCACAF statement said that Austin had no power to sack Blazer.
"Under the CONCACAF Statutes, jurisdiction over the General Secretary rests solely with the CONCACAF Executive Committee which has taken no action.
"Further a majority of the Executive Committee Members have advised Mr. Austin that he does not have the authority to take such action.
"Chuck Blazer continues as CONCACAF General Secretary and with the full authority of his office. The Confederation continues its normal operations".
(Editing by Ken Ferris / Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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In a letter to Blazer, Lisle Austin, who has taken over temporarily from the suspended Jack Warner as CONCACAF chief, said Blazer was "terminated as general secretary of CONCACAF with immediate effect."
Barbadian Austin is viewed as a close Caribbean ally of Warner's and the letter was distributed by a media official in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
Blazer swiftly responded with a statement issued by CONCACAF's media department in New York that said the move was "unauthorised" and that the American remained in office.
Blazer was the whistle-blower who made allegations of corruption against Caribbean soccer federations, which led to the suspension of long-standing CONCACAF president Warner, a former ally.
The American produced a report to FIFA that alleged bribes had been paid by Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam during a meeting with Caribbean federations in Port of Spain earlier this month.
Asian soccer chief Bin Hammam was at that time a candidate against incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter -- he has since withdrawn and also been provisionally suspended by FIFA's ethics committee pending an inquiry.
Earlier on Tuesday, Blazer had reported Warner to FIFA, saying that he had breached the terms of his suspension which bars him from "football activities", resulting in a strong retaliation from the Warner camp.
Austin said in the letter that he considered Blazer had "grossly insulted and defamed" Caribbean associations by stating "that each member association was under investigation for bribery."
The acting president also said Blazer had "improperly appointed five non-elected members of CONCACAF to congress."
Austin repeated that Blazer had no authority to hire Chicago-based lawyers Collins and Collins to collect information for the report which led to the suspension of Warner.
"The above conduct is inexcusable and a gross misconduct of duty and judgement. It is apparent that you are no longer fit to act as secretary general of CONCACAF and to represent its members," the letter concluded.
The subsequent CONCACAF statement said that Austin had no power to sack Blazer.
"Under the CONCACAF Statutes, jurisdiction over the General Secretary rests solely with the CONCACAF Executive Committee which has taken no action.
"Further a majority of the Executive Committee Members have advised Mr. Austin that he does not have the authority to take such action.
"Chuck Blazer continues as CONCACAF General Secretary and with the full authority of his office. The Confederation continues its normal operations".
(Editing by Ken Ferris / Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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