It has been previously widely reported that during its bid campaign Australia supported a number of football and humanitarian programs. FFA has kept the Australian Government and football authorities, including Mr Garcia, informed of these activities at all relevant times.
FFA’s support for a CONCACAF Centre of Excellence project in the Caribbean is a matter of public record.
In September 2010 FFA donated $A500,000 for a feasibility study to be undertaken on the project and deposited those funds in CONCACAF’s bank account and received confirmation of this from that bank.
In February 2013 FFA were contacted by CONCACAF and informed that CONCACAF had initiated an Integrity Committee enquiry into a number of matters including certain activities of the former President of CONCACAF. FFA provided all relevant information to that inquiry which in April 2013 concluded that the funds paid by FFA into CONCACAF’s bank account had been misappropriated by the former President of CONCACAF.
FFA liaised with both CONCACAF and FIFA following the CONCACAF inquiry finding and was informed that Mr Garcia’s inquiry would now investigate the matter further. FFA provided information to Mr Garcia and co-operated fully with him.
FFA is awaiting the outcome of Mr Garcia’s inquiry before taking further action.
The Centre of Excellence was one of a number of projects supported by FFA and/or the Australian Government during this period.
The FIFA guidelines required bidding nations to demonstrate a commitment to “Football Development” and “Sustainable Social and Human Development” and include two chapters within the Bid Book on these subjects.
Australia’s activities throughout were transparent and proper. FFA sought to align its activities with the Australian Government’s broader international aid objectives and in areas of focus for government aid programs, namely Oceania, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.
In each case, these activities were conducted with proper due diligence, including an assessment of the proposed project, recording and documentation.
FFA’s bid expenditures were independently audited by Ernst & Young and the resulting unqualified audit report has been provided to both the Australian Government and Mr Garcia.