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'We want to have something definitive before the World Cup,' FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday. The month long tournament kicks off June 11. -- PHOTO: AFP
ZURICH - FIFA hopes its investigation into 'crazy allegations' by a senior English official that Spain is trying to bribe World Cup referees will be concluded before the tournament begins.
'We want to have something definitive before the World Cup,' FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday. The monthlong tournament kicks off June 11.
Mr Valcke described former English Football Association head David Triesman's comments as 'crazy allegations.' However, Mr Valcke confirmed FIFA's Ethics Committee will examine the substance of Mr Triesman's claims, as well as the possibility he broke World Cup bidding rules by criticising rival candidates.
'Now we are waiting for statements,' Mr Valcke said. 'The Ethics Committee will decide which persons they want to hear and to convoke.' He suggested that the report could be completed as soon as 'the next few days.' 'We will do it as soon as we can and not waste any time,' Mr Valcke said.
Mr Triesman was secretly tape-recorded by a tabloid newspaper suggesting Russia was going to help Spain bribe World Cup referees in return for support in the race to host the 2018 or 2022 finals.
He quit on Sunday as chairman of the FA and chairman of England's bid within hours of the report being published. Europe is favoured to be awarded the 2018 finals, with England and Russia competing against joint proposals from Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium. Australia and the United States are also in both races. Japan, Qatar and South Korea are bidding only for 2022. FIFA's 24-member executive committee will choose the two hosts at a Dec 2 meeting in Zurich. -- AP
Triesman (above) quit Sunday after being secretly tape-recorded by a tabloid newspaper suggesting Russia was going to help Spain bribe referees at the World Cup in return for gaining its rival's support in the race to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament. -- PHOTO: AFP
LONDON - FIFA'S ethics committee will investigate claims by former English Football Association chairman David Triesman that Spain is trying to bribe referees at the World Cup.
Triesman quit Sunday after being secretly tape-recorded by a tabloid newspaper suggesting Russia was going to help Spain bribe referees at the World Cup in return for gaining its rival's support in the race to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament.
'FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has requested the FIFA Ethics Committee to examine the alleged statements made by Lord Triesman in relation to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups,' world football's governing body said Monday in a statement. 'In addition, FIFA has sent a letter to The Football Association asking The FA to provide a report on this matter, including Lord Triesman's position. FIFA will not make any further comment on this matter until it has been dealt with by the FIFA Ethics Committee.'
The investigation is a further setback to England's faltering bid to host the World Cup for the first time since 1966. The Mail on Sunday taped the 66-year-old Triesman two weeks ago talking with Melissa Jacobs, a former aide from his time as a government minister, but didn't publish the damaging allegations until two days after he presented England's official bid book to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
The bid board had hoped that replacing Triesman on Sunday with Geoff Thompson - a vice president of FIFA and UEFA - would draw a line under the humiliating incident. England's bid team said it welcomed - and expected - FIFA announcing an inquiry into Triesman's claims and said: 'We will cooperate fully.' '(It's) important that we can demonstrate to FIFA and the rest of the world at this time that we are serious about our bid for the World Cup 2018,' said Alex Horne, the FA's acting chief executive.
England and Russia are bidding on their own to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, while there are joint bids from Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands. Australia and the United States are also bidding for either tournament. --AP
