FIFA watchdog member removed during police investigation
One of the eight members of FIFA’s financial watchdog has been relieved of his role temporarily pending the outcome of a police investigation.
Canover Watson, a vice president of the Caribbean Football Union and member of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, was arrested by police in the Cayman Islands on suspicion of corruption and money laundering.
He has been bailed until September 29 but the committee’s chairman Domenico Scala has announced Watson has been relieved of his duties until the outcome of the investigation.
Scala said in a statement: “After a preliminary clarification of the facts of the case and the allegations of the Cayman Island investigating authorities against Canover Watson, no connection with football and/or his role at association level has been established at this stage. The investigation continues.
“The chairman has decided to temporarily relieve until further notice Canover Watson, to whom the presumption of innocence applies, of his duties on the FIFA audit and compliance committee. This should not be regarded as routine procedure, because cases like this or of this nature must always be assessed on their individual merits.”
Watson, 43, issued a statement earlier in September insisting he was innocent of all wrongdoing.
