NEW YORK (Monday, December 3, 2012) – Statement from Sir David Simmons, Integrity Committee Chairman.

“The work of the Integrity Committee has been proceeding very smoothly and satisfactorily,” Sir David Simmons, Chairman of CONCACAF’s Integrity Committee, said in a statement on Monday.

The three-member Integrity Committee met in September and October and will meet again on December 11th and 12th.

“It must be appreciated that our terms of reference cover a broad spectrum of activities,” said Sir David, describing the committee’s process.  “The lawyers assigned to assist the Committee, Sidley Austin LLP, have gone about their task in a very thorough and assiduous manner.

“That task involves the perusal of a vast amount of documentation, identifying its relevance to particular terms of reference, and marshaling and collating it before it can be placed before us.  It is painstaking, detailed work.”

In addition, Simmons said that the lawyers are also interviewing potential witnesses to give oral evidence to the Committee.

“All of this preparatory work is vitally important to the faithful discharge of our responsibilities and, so far, we are very satisfied.  We cannot make findings of fact in the absence of cogent evidence, so the time spent in unearthing evidence at this early stage is time well spent.  Our goal, however, is the production of a fair and balanced report in the spring of 2013,” he concluded.

CONCACAF announced the formation of the Integrity Committee following a meeting of its Executive Committee on September 13 in Mexico City.  The Integrity Committee was presented with CONCACAF’s Terms of Reference and was given oversight of all investigations pertaining to the previous administration in order to rectify and ensure clarity regarding all pending issues within the newly reformed Confederation.

Less than one week later, the Integrity Committee held its inaugural meeting in New York City with the task of conducting an independent review process requested by all members of the Confederation so that CONCACAF could remain focused on developing, managing, and promoting the game.

In addition to Sir David Simmons, who served as the 12th Chief Justice of Barbados from 2002 to 2010, the Integrity Committee is comprised of Judge Ricardo Urbina, a retired United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia; and Ernesto Hempe, a retired partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

About CONCACAF
CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.