The heads of the Caribbean associations in the Fifa bribery scandal have been summoned to interviews.
Heads of the Caribbean associations summoned to interviews in Miami
The heads of the 25 Caribbean associations at the centre of the Fifa bribery scandal have been summoned to investigative interviews.
Fifa's ethics committee has called the interviews in Miami, where questions will be asked about claims they were each offered or given US$40,000 as a bribe by senior Fifa members Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner.
A letter from Fifa to the associations has been obtained by
Sky News, telling federation chiefs to meet investigators from 7th-9th June.
The interviews are being carried out by officials from Freeh Group International Europe - the agency run by ex-FBI director Louis Freeh - which has been hired by Fifa to assist Robert Torres, the ethics committee member leading the probe.
Evidence
The letter states: "Although you are under no obligation to attend such a meeting please be advised that the Fifa ethics committee may draw a negative inference in the event that you (i) do not make the arrangements sought herein, or (ii) do not attend the meeting requested.
"Furthermore we kindly remind you that as an official you have a duty of disclosure and reporting, including providing any evidence requested for inspection."
Fifa says it will pick up the tab for travel to and accommodation in Miami and say if officials cannot make the dates requested they must offer an alternative to take place within the next 10 days.
Bin Hammam and Warner have been suspended pending the outcome of the probe, which is likely to be completed in mid-July. The bribes are alleged to have been paid to members of the Caribbean Football Union at a meeting in Trinidad on 10th and 11th May.
One Caribbean association has complained to Fifa that the investigation is "biased" towards the USA - one of the defeated bids for the 2022 World Cup.
