ZURICH: FIFA’s ethics watchdog said on Friday it was seeking a four-year ban against the former Caribbean Football Union chief Gordon Derrick over alleged bribery and conflict of interest.

Derrick, a native of Antigua and Barbuba, becomes the latest in a long line of football executives targeted by FIFA’s ethics committee, which has thrown dozens of people out of the sport over graft.

In a statement, FIFA said ethics judges had opened a formal case against Derrick after investigators found evidence of corruption and abuse of office.

Aside from a four-year ban, investigators are also seeking a 15,000 Swiss franc ($15,000, 13,800 euro) fine.

Derrick had last year sought to take charge of the governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) — after the two previous chiefs were brought down by their own corruption scandals.

But Derrick was barred from running in the CONCACAF vote after failing a background check by FIFA’s compliance committee.

Dodgy deals and bribery were standard practice within CONCACAF when Derrick was an executive in the region, according to US prosecutors who have charged multiple former CONCACAF officials with racketeering and wire fraud.

FIFA said Derrick has been provided details of the evidence against and can request a hearing with ethics judges to defend himself.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2017