Triesman outlines Fifa corruption at stormy Commons session
By Ian Dunt
The former chairman of the FA has launched a devastating broadside against Fifa, making detailed accusations of corruption to a Commons committee.
David Triesman told the culture, media and sport committee that he had waited until his appearance to make the allegations so he could be protected under parliamentary privilege.
The central figure behind England’s 2018 World Cup bid said there was “improper and unethical behaviour” during the early stages of the campaign.
He accused Concacaf president Jack Warner of asking for £2.5 million to build a school and offices in Trinidad, to be paid directly to him, at a meeting in 2009.
He also alleged that Paraguayan Fifa executive Nicolas Leoz had requested a knighthood, Brazilian football federation head Ricardo Teixeira had said Brazilian president Lula was “nothing” and that Fifa Exco member Worawi Makudi had demanded TV rights to an England-Thailand friendly that was being negotiated.
Meanwhile, new evidence submitted to the committee by the Sunday Times alleged that two Fifa executive committee members accepted major payments in return for backing Qatar’s 2022 bid.
The people mentioned in the statement, including the Qatar Football Association, deny the allegations.
“If this is true, I will fight this,” said Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
“I am fighting for Fifa to clean Fifa. I cannot answer for individual members of our committee. I cannot say if they are all angels or if they are all devils.”
