Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani says he is running for president of soccer's governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, whose past three presidents have been charged with corruption by U.S. prosecutors.
"There's a lot of really good people in the game," Montagliani said Monday. "But I think it's time for maybe the silent majority to not be silent any more, and I consider myself part of that."
Montagliani has served as CSA president since 2012. Guyana's Mark Rodrigues and Bermuda Football president Larry Mussenden also are running, and other candidates are possible. CONCACAF members are scheduled to elect a new president May 12 in Mexico City, before a FIFA Congress.
Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, CONCACAF's president from 1990-2011, was indicted in May on charges of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and money laundering. He is fighting extradition.
Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, CONCACAF's president from 2012 until he was indicted in May, pleaded guilty in November to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, and agreed to forfeit more than $6.7 million.
Alfred Hawit of Honduras, CONCACAF's president from May until he was indicted in November, was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty.
"The events have sullied our sport and badly undermined the public's trust in football's governing bodies," Montagliani wrote in a letter announcing his candidacy. "If football is deserving of the devotion of such a large swath of the world's population, then it needs to be governed in a principled and professional way that, above all else, protects the integrity of the game. I believe my unique journey in football as a player, administrator, and executive has prepared me particularly well to lead CONCACAF at this important moment."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
