FIFA, the governing body of World Football, denied allegations made on BBC's 'Panorama' programme aired a few days ago. FIFA blame irregularities in the ISL without revealing more about FIFA's vice-president and CONCACAF president Jack Warner's role in the allegations.

A short media release by FIFA states that the allegations made by 'Panorama' and BBC journalist Andrew Jennings about "FIFA and its President take exception to, which does not mean that any of the other points raised are acceptable to FIFA or true," in a statement that does not address any of the allegations made, which were based on journalistic research and credible evidence.

FIFA, who claim they have nothing to be afraid of, have banned Jennings from all FIFA events and press conferences and refuse to answer questions about the allegations, replying with the usual "not credible" and "unfounded" excuses.

It is alleged that FIFA president Sepp Blatter has personally taken action to ban Jennings, in a move which restricts free speech and criticism from outsiders. Even though there have been numerous allegations and recent outcries from various Football Associations and Sports Ministers, including England's FA.

"As confirmed by the relevant authorities, it is completely false and defamatory to claim that either the FIFA President or FIFA are the subject of a bribery probe by the Swiss police. The fact is that in the past, FIFA was actually the victim of ISL irregularities," read the statement from FIFA's Media Department.

Allegations against Blatter's strong partner and supporter in electoral processes Jack Warner are clearly not addressed and FIFA officials are continuously denying to comment on the issue. Some tickets available for the Trinidad and Tobago's 'Soca Warriors', which were supposed to be allocated to the fans, never reached the offices of the local Football Association.

FIFA has said in the past that the ludicrous revenues generated by the sponsorship and broadcasting deals are invested in football development programs in various developing countries.

However 'Panorama' revealed that in Trinidad and Tobago, where investments have been made according to FIFA, conditions for the youth football development programs lack even basic facilities, despite the fact that Jack Warner was transformed from a "poorly-paid history teacher" into multi-millionaire by illegal payments to himself with the cover-up of expenses of the T&T Football Association.

Most tickets for the 'Socca Warriors' were allocated to a company called "Simpaul Travel" which was own by Jack Warner and his wife. Although Warner sold the company after the allegations were made, it is alleged that most of the tickets allocated to his company had already been sold, so he had already pocketed the money.

Jack Warner's Villa house which is located near CONCACAF's building is raising suspicions about widespread corruption, while the country’s youth are lacking the very basics. What is also alleged is that the building of CONCACAF in Trinidad & Tobago is owned by the Warner family, and Jack Warner is charging $300,000 a year the Football Association he is president of for a property in Trinidad & Tobago.

Unless Trinidad & Tobago is a top property investment destination, "Real estate developer" (according to FIFA's website) Jack Warner had signed a very good deal with himself, something that was silently accepted by FIFA, whose President Sepp Blatter was in full knowledge of the situation.

The 35 Football Associations' votes Jack Warner is alleged to control, were the key to Sepp Blatter's election as president of FIFA, and through illegal payments which instead of going into developing football facilities for the country's youth ended up in Jack Warner's and his family's personal bank accounts.

FIFA were quick to ban Andrew Jennings from all FIFA events and also through legal action threats silence the journalist, however the matter appears to be gaining attention and proof of that is the carefully written statement from the organisation's legal team, which impresses with the use of the English language deployed to write a statement which simply says that "it is not true" without offering any information or evidence to address the allegations made.

The attack on the press in order to silence allegations by veteran journalists is clearly a worrying signal from FIFA, who's moto is "my game is fair play". Fair allegations require fair and objective answers, and it would be positive to see the National Union of Journalists in the United Kingdom and other free speech organisations across the world to stand more by it's members and try to overturn FIFA decisions which were based on FIFA's own rules of the "game".

You can read the full transcript of the excellent 'Panorama' show on the BBC Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/5076282.stm

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