The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) has thrown its support behind Lionel Haven, a former executive member of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), who has been slapped with a five year ban by FIFA, football’s governing body. FIFA codes of ethics argued in a court ruling that Haven is guilty of not disclosing information of cash payments at a CFU event in 2011. This, says FIFA, is in violation of articles 13, 15 and 18 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
Lionel Haven says that BFA stands in full support of him because they are convinced, as he continues to state, that he has done nothing wrong.
“We are confident and satisfied that his involvement in this, is as he stated,” said Anton Sealey, head of the Bahamas football association chapter . “I spoke to him immediately after having reported it, and I’m satisfied that he had no involvement in this and we stand behind him.”
The ban, as ruled by the courts, states that Haven is not allowed to be involved in any football related activity on either the national or international level. The ruling was also accompanied by a fine of $3,000 to be paid within 30 days of the ruling. The ban stems from the alleged cash for votes controversy in which Caribbean football executives were at an hotel in Trinidad and given $40,000 put in envelopes before of the 2011 FIFA presidential election.
