Australia police weighing probe of FFA payment to Warner

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Australian police may investigate a payment of $500,000 by Football Federation Australia to Jack Warner after the former soccer powerbroker was arrested in a sweeping corruption probe launched by U.S. authorities this week.

Australia’s national soccer governing body claimed the payment was made as part of “mandatory” FIFA bidding criteria during the country’s failed bid for the 2022 World Cup but was misappropriated by Warner.

Bonita Mersiades, a former senior member of Australia’s bid team, and local lawmaker Nick Xenophon had written to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) asking them to investigate the payment, the AFP said.

“The AFP can confirm it has been contacted … and asked to provide advice in relation to this matter,” the police force said in a short statement emailed to Reuters on Friday.

“The AFP will assess the letters and provide advice in due course.”

Football Federation Australia, whose senior management are in Zurich for the FIFA congress, was unavailable to provide comment.

The FFA has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in its World Cup bid and said the 2010 payment was intended to fund a feasibility study for a ‘centre of excellence’ project in the Caribbean.

A 2013 probe by CONCACAF said the payment was misappropriated by Warner, a former president the regional soccer governing body for North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Warner resigned from his soccer roles in 2011 amid corruption allegations but was among more than a dozen soccer, media and promotions officials indicted by U.S. authorities this week.