BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Caribbean Football Union (CFU) has been mentioned in the latest chapter of the ongoing FIFA scandal after allegations surfaced that it had received US$10M from South Africa as a bribe to secure hosting of the 2010 World Cup.
A report on BBC Sports indicated that South Africa paid $10M to a football body led by Jack Warner, a sum of money that is the focal point of FIFA’s corruption allegations.
"Danny Jordaan, head of South Africa's FA, is quoted as confirming that the amount was deducted from a FFIFA payment to the country in 2008. A subsequent letter requested that money to be sent, instead, to the Caribbean Football Union, reports say," the British media organisation reported.
The South African official had however refuted allegations that his association passed a bribe to secure hosting of the 2010 World Cup, despite American prosecutors insisting the Rainbow Nation "made an illegal payment after the government promised $10M to Warner and became the first African Nation to host a World Cup.
BBC also reported that the FIFA crisis was a main feature on Sunday's South African newspapers.
They also indicated that "Jordaan could not be reached for comment on Sunday, but he is quoted as insisting the money was paid to the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in 2008 as South Africa's contribution towards their football development fund".
BBC's Andrew Harding who is in Johannesburg said: "Unnamed officials have confirmed that the payment was made to support football development among members of the African Diaspora - something which does make sense in the political context of the time."
It also reported that two UK banks have launched investigations into whether they were used for any corrupt payments by FIFA’s officials.
Two Caribbean natives, President of CONCACAF Jeffrey Webbe and former President Jack Warner, have been indicted on charges ranging from bribery, racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.
Calls have been made for FIFA President Sepp Blatter to step down, but he was re-elected on Friday (May 29) to serve a fifth term.
