Are those FIFA roles really unpaid, Hon. Min. Warner?

While we await the results of the Attorney General's and Integrity Commission's review of the Hon. Minister Jack Warner's holding of his FIFA and Ministerial roles, I wish to re-focus on Hon. Min. Warner's recent statement that the FIFA roles are unpaid.

FIFA's Annual Financial Report 2009 is available on their website (http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/18/31/86/...).

On page 95, Note 24 outlines provisions made for a pension fund for FIFA Executive Members, which is payable to those who retire after 2005 and have served at least 8 years on the FIFA Executive Committee.  If FIFA Executive Committee positions are unpaid positions, as Mr Warner claims, then is it possible for a pension fund to be setup for them with contributions from FIFA?

According to Mr Warner's official profile on FIFA's website, Mr Warner has been CONCACAF President (and thus a FIFA Executive Member) since 1990, so he appears eligible for this pension upon retirement.  In fact, another news release on FIFA.com states that Mr Warner is 'the longest continuously serving member of the FIFA Executive Committee having first taken his seat on that body in 1983.'  Mr Warner's official profile on CONCACAF's website states he is the Deputy Chairman of FIFA's Finance Committee (and a member of other FIFA committees).

On page 105, Note 32 covers payments to key management personnel: 'Members of the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee and the FIFA management, in particular the directors, are regarded as key management personnel. In 2009, short-term employee benefits of USD 20.9 million were paid to the key management personnel (2008: USD 18.5 million). In addition to these short-term employee benefits, FIFA contributes to defined post-employment benefit plans. The recognised post-employment benefit expenses in 2009 amounted to USD 2.1 million (2008: USD 2.1 million).'

It is unclear whether 'short-term employee benefits' includes remuneration, stipends or salaries paid to Executive Committee Members.

Thus, given the above information, the question on whether Mr Warner actually receives any cash or benefit-in-kind from FIFA may need to be re-raised by the Attorney General or the Integrity Committee.

If the answer is yes, then there appears to be a case for conflict of interest between the two roles (FIFA Executive Committee Member and Minister of Government) and remedial action would be required.