England Hits Back At FIFA Over ‘Corruption’ Probe
FIFA is coming under growing pressure from some of Europe’s leading football federations to take “urgent action” and restore confidence in t...
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FIFA is coming under growing pressure from some of Europe’s leading football federations to take “urgent action” and restore confidence in the world governing body.
Under-fire FIFA has faced heavy criticism over its refusal to publish a key report into allegations of corruption surrounding the Cup bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar.
England’s 2018 bid was singled out for particular criticism by German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert when he delivered his 42-page summary of Garcia’s report last week.
But the Association chairman Greg Dyke has hit back, confirming he will be writing to every member of the FIFA executive committee asking for full publication.
“I am writing to each member of the FIFA Executive Committee on behalf of the FA to urge you to insist on the publication of Mr Garcia’s full report as a matter of some urgency.
“As you probably know the reputation of FIFA was already low in England and much of Europe before the events of last week.”
FIFA had hoped Eckert’s summary would draw a veil over the bidding process, but that hope was scuppered when American lawyer Garcia said the 42-page report was error ridden.
“The failure to publish Mr Garcia’s report and his statement that the summary report which was published contained “numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations” has resulted in a further decline in public confidence of FIFA,” added Dyke.
“We cannot go on like this. Complete transparency is required if the actions of all those who bid, including England 2018, are to be judged fairly.”
Dyke went on to ask members of the FIFA executive committee to think of the greater good for FIFA and football.
“I know some of you believe that FIFA’s reputation in England is the result of an obsession amongst the English media with FIFA and I know Mr Blatter sees their reports as an unfair attack on the organization he leads,” said Blatter.
“However, in England we see it differently. If you read a whole range of English newspaper reports about FIFA, particularly those in the Times, they do provide compelling evidence of wrong doing.
“They cannot be simply dismissed as “racist” or “an attack on FIFA” as Mr Blatter described them at the FIFA Congress in Brazil.
“Urgent action is needed if confidence in FIFA is to be rebuilt in England. The FA is of the view that this action should start with the full publication of Mr Garcia’s report.”
Dyke’s move comes after the England’s 2018 bid team was accused of acting improperly during the bidding process by the report.
The FA was accused accused of attempting to “curry favor” with former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who left his role in 2011 following allegations of bribery.
The report claims that the England bidding team sponsored a $55,000 gala dinner for the Union, allowed the Trinidad and Tobago under-20 squad to hold a training camp in the Kingdom in 2009 and attempted to help a “person of interest” to Warner find a job in the country.
Source: The Punch
Under-fire FIFA has faced heavy criticism over its refusal to publish a key report into allegations of corruption surrounding the Cup bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar.
England’s 2018 bid was singled out for particular criticism by German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert when he delivered his 42-page summary of Garcia’s report last week.
But the Association chairman Greg Dyke has hit back, confirming he will be writing to every member of the FIFA executive committee asking for full publication.
“I am writing to each member of the FIFA Executive Committee on behalf of the FA to urge you to insist on the publication of Mr Garcia’s full report as a matter of some urgency.
“As you probably know the reputation of FIFA was already low in England and much of Europe before the events of last week.”
FIFA had hoped Eckert’s summary would draw a veil over the bidding process, but that hope was scuppered when American lawyer Garcia said the 42-page report was error ridden.
“The failure to publish Mr Garcia’s report and his statement that the summary report which was published contained “numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations” has resulted in a further decline in public confidence of FIFA,” added Dyke.
“We cannot go on like this. Complete transparency is required if the actions of all those who bid, including England 2018, are to be judged fairly.”
Dyke went on to ask members of the FIFA executive committee to think of the greater good for FIFA and football.
“I know some of you believe that FIFA’s reputation in England is the result of an obsession amongst the English media with FIFA and I know Mr Blatter sees their reports as an unfair attack on the organization he leads,” said Blatter.
“However, in England we see it differently. If you read a whole range of English newspaper reports about FIFA, particularly those in the Times, they do provide compelling evidence of wrong doing.
“They cannot be simply dismissed as “racist” or “an attack on FIFA” as Mr Blatter described them at the FIFA Congress in Brazil.
“Urgent action is needed if confidence in FIFA is to be rebuilt in England. The FA is of the view that this action should start with the full publication of Mr Garcia’s report.”
Dyke’s move comes after the England’s 2018 bid team was accused of acting improperly during the bidding process by the report.
The FA was accused accused of attempting to “curry favor” with former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who left his role in 2011 following allegations of bribery.
The report claims that the England bidding team sponsored a $55,000 gala dinner for the Union, allowed the Trinidad and Tobago under-20 squad to hold a training camp in the Kingdom in 2009 and attempted to help a “person of interest” to Warner find a job in the country.
Source: The Punch
