Top FIFA official hits out at England
Source: Agencies |
June 2, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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FIFA'S senior vice president criticized England's football leaders and media in a remarkable speech to the governing body's 208 members.
Julio Grondona described England, which founded international football, as "where the insults and the problems come from."
"We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is busy lying rather than telling the truth," Grondona said.
The 79-year-old Argentina official spoke after England failed in a proposal to postpone President Sepp Blatter's re-election yesterday.
Grondona's South American colleagues on FIFA's executive committee, Nicolas Leoz and Ricardo Teixeira, have repeatedly been accused of unethical behavior by English officials and media.
"It looks like England always has something to complain about," said Grondona, who joined FIFA's ruling panel 23 years ago.
Among the claims, the BBC has alleged that Teixeira of Brazil and Leoz of Paraguay took kickbacks from FIFA's former marketing partner in the 1990s.
Officials from England's failed 2018 World Cup bid claimed that aides for Leoz asked that he receive a knighthood and have the FA Cup named after him in exchange for his support.
England's bid was humiliated last December, eliminated in the first round of a four-bid contest with just two votes from FIFA's 22-man board. Russia won the election.
Grondona said England has never got over losing the presidency of FIFA in 1974, when Stanley Rous was defeated by Blatter's mentor, Joao Havelange of Brazil.
"It looks like this country didn't like it and goes on not liking it, and it doesn't show good will," Grondona said. "Will you please leave the FIFA family alone. Say what you have to say but with truth. Say it clearly and without upsetting our family."
Julio Grondona described England, which founded international football, as "where the insults and the problems come from."
"We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is busy lying rather than telling the truth," Grondona said.
The 79-year-old Argentina official spoke after England failed in a proposal to postpone President Sepp Blatter's re-election yesterday.
Grondona's South American colleagues on FIFA's executive committee, Nicolas Leoz and Ricardo Teixeira, have repeatedly been accused of unethical behavior by English officials and media.
"It looks like England always has something to complain about," said Grondona, who joined FIFA's ruling panel 23 years ago.
Among the claims, the BBC has alleged that Teixeira of Brazil and Leoz of Paraguay took kickbacks from FIFA's former marketing partner in the 1990s.
Officials from England's failed 2018 World Cup bid claimed that aides for Leoz asked that he receive a knighthood and have the FA Cup named after him in exchange for his support.
England's bid was humiliated last December, eliminated in the first round of a four-bid contest with just two votes from FIFA's 22-man board. Russia won the election.
Grondona said England has never got over losing the presidency of FIFA in 1974, when Stanley Rous was defeated by Blatter's mentor, Joao Havelange of Brazil.
"It looks like this country didn't like it and goes on not liking it, and it doesn't show good will," Grondona said. "Will you please leave the FIFA family alone. Say what you have to say but with truth. Say it clearly and without upsetting our family."
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