{UAH} FIFA in fresh turmoil as explosive letter blows apart claims
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FIFA in fresh turmoil as explosive letter blows apart claims that Sepp Blatter's No 2 Jerome Valcke did NOT know about $10m payment at centre of FBI probe
- US justice department say $10m bribe was paid to former FIFA members Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer from FIFA's Swiss bank in 2008
- New York Times claim payment made by secretary general Jerome Valcke
- Valcke denies that and FIFA head of media Delia Fischer says it was Julio Grondona who made the payment
- Letter emerges that appears to show that Valcke WAS aware of payment
- FIFA calls unexpected press conference for 5pm BST - Blatter set to attend
By Joe Ridge for MailOnline and Martyn Ziegler, Press Association
Published: 08:03 GMT, 2 June 2015 | Updated: 17:52 GMT, 2 June 2015
FIFA was plunged into fresh turmoil today after an explosive letter appeared to contradict its claims that Sepp Blatter's right-hand man was not involved in the payment of an alleged $10million bribe.
The payment is at the heart of an FBI probe which claims the money was given to disgraced former vice-president Jack Warner and his deputy Chuck Blazer in return for them voting for the 2010 World Cup to be played in South Africa.
Secretary general Jerome Valcke was last night suspected of signing off the payment, but FIFA issued a statement this morning robustly denying he had any involvement.
They insisted it was instead authorised by Julio Grondona, the former finance chief and Blatter's long-time ally who died last year.
However, just an hour later, a letter from the South African Football Association emerged that appeared to blow apart those claims.
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Jerome Valcke (left) has a word in the ear of FIFA president Sepp Blatter in December 2014
This letter addressed to Jerome Valcke was published by SABC News on Tuesday morning
Julio Grondona (right) unveils Diego Maradona as Argentina manager when he was their FA president in 2008
The letter, from South African FA president Molefi Oliphant, was addressed to Valcke and asked for the payment to be withheld from World Cup funds and paid instead to Warner to support football in the Caribbean.
It contains detailed instructions for the payment.
The letter, dated March 4, 2008, states:
'Dear Mr Valcke
'In view of the decision by the South African government that an amount of USD 10million from the organising committee's future operational budget funding and thereafter advances the amount to the Diaspora Legacy Programme.
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'In addition, SAFA requests that the Diaspora Legacy Programme be administered and implemented directly by the President of CONCACAF who shall act as a fiduciary of the Fund.
'SAFA therefore confirms that:
'1. FIFA shall withhold USD 10million from the organising committee's future operational budget funding in order to finance the Diaspora Legacy Programme, thereby reducing the organising committee's overall budget from USD 423million to USD 413 million.
'2. The Diaspora Legacy Programme shall be administered and implemented directly by the President of CONCACAF who shall act as a fiduciary of the Diaspora Legacy Programme Fund of USD 10million.
'Yours faithfully, Dr M OliphanDisclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.
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