Warriors’ Week In Review

This Week – Jack Warner ‘not guilty’; FIFA gives T&T more tickets; Germany to be deprived of T&T Culture; T&T Coach Leo Beenhakker defends the Warriors’ chances in Germany

• Jack can do no wrong – As Bob has detailed, the FIFA ethics committee ruled that Jack Warner’s role in the World Cup ticket distribution in Trinidad involved no conflict of interest. Sigh. FIFA has repeatedly demonstrated that it’s not the most above-board organisation in the world. Blatter’s entire tenure has been dogged by allegations of corruption. So has Jack Warner’s. The excellent Lasana Liburd over at the Trinidad Express provides even more details.
• More tickets for T&T – Seemingly as a reward for Jack Warner’s behaviour, T&T nationals will benefit from an increased ticket allocation for all World Cup games. How embarassing.
• Only Jumbieno will be representing T&T culture in Germany – No steelpan. No local artistes or performers. The Government’s stance is hopelessly noncommittal: “We as a government have been doing a lot of preliminary work…we have done some ground work…Government itself intends to send its cultural troupe…” More at the Trinidad Express.
• Beenie: Don’t underestimate my Warriors – In an interview with the Hamburger Adenblatt (german resource; english translation here), Beenhakker argues that the Warriors “should be respected. 196 countries wanted to get to the World Cup, and we belong to the group of 32.” Pointing out that the Warriors are “predominantly professional players from England and Scottland,” Beenie said that he aims to “surprise” their English, Swedish and Paraguayan opponents. Great interview overall.