Topic: FIFA
Football association seeks new leader
The Cayman Islands Football Association will hold an election in May to find a successor to disgraced former president Jeffrey Webb.
Soccer bosses vote for reform ahead of election
Leaders of regional soccer federation CONCACAF, including Cayman’s Bruce Blake, met in Switzerland on Thursday to approve a series of reforms that the organization hopes will put an era of corruption and excess behind it.
Webb parties amid FIFA fallout
His best friend and someone he once described as “his brother” was sent to jail for seven years Friday.
EDITORIAL – FIFA scandal fallout: not just ‘not over,’ but barely begun
Canover Watson is in Northward Prison. Jeffrey Webb is under house arrest in Georgia. And yet the local fallout from the global FIFA scandal has barely started.
Cayman CONCACAF offices shuttered
The Cayman Islands CONCACAF president’s offices in George Town closed down on Feb. 1, the Cayman Compass learned this week.
Football firm linked to FIFA probe, Watson court case
A Pakistan-based football products manufacturing company has been linked in legal documents to the ongoing FIFA corruption and bribery probe in the United States.
Lawsuit: US$1.2M in CIFA loans were ‘graft’
Some US$1.2 million in what were initially called loans granted to the Cayman Islands Football Association in 2013 have been described as “graft” in a lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court.
CarePay trial: CIFA centre of excellence cash not returned
A sum of $250,000 deposited in a Fidelity Bank account via the Cayman Islands Football Association through another local company was never returned to the company that paid it, Canover Watson testified Tuesday during his criminal trial.
Hernandez, Lloyd named CONCACAF Players of the Year
Mexico’s Javier Hernandez and USA’s Carli Lloyd were named Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football’s 2015 Male and Female Players of...
Blake ‘heartbroken’ by latest CIFA claims
Cayman football boss Bruce Blake says he is “sad and heartbroken” by allegations that money intended for the national football Centre of Excellence may...
US argues against release of CONCACAF chief
The U.S. Department of Justice is opposing the release on bond of indicted CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit because it fears the Honduran national may...
CarePay trial – Watson: CIFA funds paid for Webb’s house
A sum of US$250,000 from the Cayman Islands Football Association, designated for the construction of a new football complex in Prospect, was used pay...
CarePay trial: Webb hid CarePay profits from ex-wife, says Defense
Caymanian businessman Jeffrey Webb tried to cover his involvement in the company that won the Health Services Authority’s patient swipe-card contract because he was trying to hide his profits from his former wife during divorce proceedings, defense attorneys in the CarePay trial alleged.
Shortlists announced for CONCACAF Awards
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football has announced the shortlists and the opening of fan and media voting for the third-annual CONCACAF Awards.
Carepay trial: HSA staffers delivered checks for $1.5M to Watson’s assistant
Three checks totaling more than $1.5 million were delivered to the offices of Canover Watson's former company by HSA staff members.
Third indicted CONCACAF chief faces US extradition
Another regional football president heads back to the U.S. facing criminal charges in the FIFA scandal, but Cayman's CONCACAF president's office remains open.
CarePay trial: Bank chief confirms ‘loan’ to Webb
The head of Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands confirmed that representatives of his bank approved a US$240,000 loan to local businessman Jeffrey Webb in June 2011.
A month-by-month roundup of Cayman’s 2015 news stories
Top stories of 2015 in the Cayman Islands
CONCACAF ‘contributions’ from FIFA on hold
FIFA, world football’s governing body, announced this week that it has put funding on hold “until further notice” for two of its confederations in the Americas – including one in the Caribbean and Central America.
At year’s end: Future paths, old obstacles
As 2015 draws to a close, the Compass Editorial Board looks at some of the obstacles facing Cayman, a number of which can be turned into opportunities for advancement and improvement.
Editorial Year in Review: FIFA, corruption
editorials on fifa, corruption
FIFA scandal: Swiss hand evidence to US authorities
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice has given U.S. authorities a first set of bank documents that will be used as evidence in criminal proceedings against the football executives.
Top stories of 2015: FIFA scandal puts Cayman in spotlight
A dawn raid at a luxurious Swiss hotel in May led to the crumbling of a soccer empire and thrust the Cayman Islands into the world spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Carli Lloyd wows youth at football camp
More than 150 people turned out for the Arie Smith Football Camp at Camana Bay’s Sports Complex on Dec. 21 to learn some new skills and meet a legend of the game.
CIFA to launch GOAL project inquiry
The Cayman Islands Football Association has said it will appoint an independent committee to examine spending on its multimillion-dollar Centre of Excellence.
Carli Lloyd to return to Cayman
Carli Lloyd, World Cup MVP and 2015 World Champion footballer, is returning to the Cayman Islands next week.
FIFA scandal: Cayman football in Webb’s shadow
In the United States, the trial of Jeffrey Webb is over before it began. Here in the Cayman Islands, however, the stain of Webb's legacy is only beginning to become apparent.
Webb fired from Cayman football association
Jeffrey Webb has been officially terminated as president of the Cayman Islands Football Association after pleading guilty to involvement in racketeering and bribery schemes at world football’s governing body, FIFA. CIFA’s executive committee said it would hold elections for the role “at its first congress in 2016,” though it has not set a date for the meeting.
Fallout from Webb guilty plea continues
Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden calls for an independent inquiry into Cayman football’s governing body in the wake of allegations that Jeffrey Webb embezzled funds intended for youth soccer programs.
Webb charges reference local attorney, 'conspirators'
Details of Jeffrey Webb's alleged misdeeds, and those of his alleged conspirators, are revealed in U.S. federal court records.
Webb pleads guilty in FIFA probe, will forfeit US$6.7M
Cayman Islands businessman Jeffrey Webb has pleaded guilty to seven charges in a 15 count indictment against him related to the U.S. Department of Justice probe of racketeering and bribery schemes in world football’s governing body, FIFA.
Webb, a former FIFA vice president, former president of FIFA’s governing body for the Caribbean, North and Central America, and suspended president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, entered his guilty plea on Nov. 23.
FIFA scandal fits in with Mob Museum's motif
The FIFA corruption scandal, which has links to the Cayman Islands, fits right in with the ranks of notorious mobsters and gangster-hunting “G-men” featured at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Webb’s replacement at CONCACAF arrested
Jeffrey Webb's replacement at the CONCACAF football organization has been arrested in an ongoing probe of FIFA.
CarePay trial: Health Ministry duped into paying $1.2M, claims Crown
Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson deceived local government officials into paying an additional US$1.2 million for the expansion of a public hospital patient swipe-card system by “doctoring” copies of the initial CarePay card contract and sending it to Ministry of Health officials in August 2011, Crown prosecutors said Thursday.
Crown: Watson, Webb used company to defraud public sector
Canover Watson, with help from his friend Jeffrey Webb and former personal assistant Miriam Rodriguez, used a company he and Webb set up to “defraud public bodies of large amounts of money” jurors heard in the first day of a corruption trial.
On corruption: The duties of the governor
The Cayman Islands has a reputation for being a hotbed of corruption, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Anti-Corruption Commission probing 12 cases
The Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission is actively investigating 12 cases of corruption, and incoming complaints have dropped by more than half since 2012-2013.
FIFA course raises standards
Referees in Cayman are now more qualified after the Cayman Islands Football Association hosted a FIFA Referee Course.
Slower summer affects tourism growth
After several years of steady improvement, the growth of Cayman’s tourism industry began to slow this year.
Two CIMA board members not available
Two Cayman Islands Monetary Authority board members appointed earlier this year are unable to serve their three-year terms for various reasons, and replacements will have to be found, Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton confirmed Monday.
Swiss approve extradition of Costas Takkas
Swiss authorities have approved the extradition of Costas Takkas, Jeffrey Webb’s assistant at FIFA and former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association, to face trial in the U.S. on bribery charges.
MP: Brits should be ready to assist Cayman FIFA investigations
A British MP and FIFA reform campaigner has called on the U.K. Serious Fraud Office to take a greater role in investigating corruption in the game’s governing body.
FIFA bans Jack Warner for life
Former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was banned for life from football activities by FIFA, effective Friday. Warner is also facing extradition to the U.S. from his home country of Trinidad and Tobago.
Third FIFA official ordered extradited to US
The third of seven FIFA officials arrested in May during a U.S. law enforcement raid at a Zurich hotel has been ordered to be extradited to America.
Cummings never stops tri-ing
Triathlon organizers used to boast that their sport is the fastest growing in the world. That may indeed be case in the Cayman Islands as every other athlete seems to be lured into the swim, bike and run event. Daniel Cummings is a typical new convert.
Women's coaching course held
The Cayman Islands Football Association hosted the FIFA Women’s Coaching Course at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex last week.
Second FIFA official's extradition ordered
The second of seven arrested FIFA officials being held in Switzerland in connection with an international football bribery probe has been ordered extradited to the U.S.
Blatter under fire over World Cup TV rights
A 2005 FIFA contract obtained by Swiss broadcaster SRF indicates that FIFA President Sepp Blatter allegedly sold TV rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup for a fraction of the market price to the Caribbean Football Union and the regional football body’s then-president Jack Warner.
Refs on course to raise levels
The Referee Department of the Cayman Islands Football Association is intensifying its training sessions ahead of the new football season, which kicks off next month.
More families opting for private schools
More parents in the Cayman Islands are opting to send their children to private schools, new statistics show. Both the Cayman International School and Triple C have added staff and classrooms after reporting record enrollment figures for the 2015/16 academic year.
Scotland steps down from CIFA
Former Sports Minister Mark Scotland has become the latest member of the Cayman Islands Football Association executive to step down from his role.
Court: Webb allowed to return to Georgia
Cayman's Jeffrey Webb will be allowed to return “home” to Georgia while on bail from U.S. bribery charges.
Cayman issues poised for 'prime time'
From the standpoint of sheer numbers, we cannot recall another point in time where Cayman faced so many reputational threats of our own creation.
Maples continues CIFA funding, confirms Blake resignation
Law firm Maples and Calder will continue its sponsorship of grass roots football in the Cayman Islands despite recent controversies surrounding the game’s local governing body.
CIFA had $17K loss on World Cup tickets
The Cayman Islands Football Association had a loss of almost $17,000 on buying and selling World Cup tickets, according to its financial statements for 2013/2014.
Unnamed companies gifted almost $1M to CIFA
Almost $1 million in loans from unnamed private companies have been re-assigned as sponsorship income in the Cayman Islands Football Association’s 2013/14 accounts.
General secretary resigns from football association
The turmoil surrounding the Cayman Islands Football Association increased Tuesday as acting general secretary Paul Macey announced his resignation.
Football leader re-elected; corruption probe possible
Football boss Bruce Blake has promised full cooperation with any investigation into the Cayman Islands Football Association’s finances after being confirmed as acting leader of the organization.
Webb struggling to fund NY home, security
Former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb claims he is struggling to fund his house arrest in New York.
Blake remains defiant as election looms
Acting head of the Cayman Islands Football Association Bruce Blake has shrugged off government’s decision to pull funding from the organization and insists he is the man to take the sport forward.
CIFA rejection a kick in the shins
The upcoming CIFA elections could have constituted a fresh start for a troubled organization. Instead, the “re-elections” appear to reinforce the worst possible suspicions about CIFA’s lack of transparency and accountability.
Government to pull football funding amid election row
Government is pulling its funding from the Cayman Islands Football Association amid concerns about the handling of leadership elections.
Statement from CIFA
The Cayman Islands Football Association responds to media reports and Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden's comments from last week.
Three months later, three FIFA defendants before US court
The wheels of justice turn slowly for defendants charged in the FIFA bribery scandal.
Sports minister questions football association’s election process
Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden has called on the Cayman Islands Football Association to hold “free and fair elections” on its leadership.
U-15s football team unlucky not to reach Caribbean final
The Cayman Islands Under-15 national football team returned home from St. Maarten with their heads held high after gaining third place at the Caribbean Football Union U-15 Championships.
Moxam's CIFA leadership bid thwarted
Bruce Blake looks set to be re-elected unopposed as first vice president and acting president of the Cayman Islands Football Association after Renard Moxam’s nomination to stand for election was rejected.
CIFA lines up more courses for officials
The Cayman Islands Football Association has organized several courses for the rest of 2015, providing certification opportunities to coaches and administrators.
Additional CIMA-Webb connections identified
More connections between Jeffrey Webb and Cayman's financial regulator are revealed.
Moxam seeks to lead football association
Renard Moxam is bidding to lead the Cayman Islands Football Association saying the organization needs a fresh start under new leadership following negative publicity in the wake of the corruption allegations that have shaken the world game.
