Romario seeks clarification from Teixeira
Reuters - Tuesday 31 May 2011, 23:24
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian Football
Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira has been asked by
former striker Romario, now a member of congress, to clarify the
FIFA corruption allegations made against him.
Romario, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994, wants
Teixeira to explain why he was named in the alleged vote buying
scandal to stage the World Cup finals.
Teixeira was absolved of any wrongdoing at the weekend by
the FIFA Ethics Committee after an internal investigation - but
Romario said the football chief needed to clarify the situation.
"I have nothing against the president of the CBF. I even
have good relations (with him). But every day there are new
accusations and I think it pertinent he should come here to
answer some questions," Romario told a chamber session on
Tuesday, according to his Brazilian Socialist Party.
Teixeira was one of four FIFA Executive Committee members
accused by former English FA chairman David Triesman of having
been prepared to sell his vote for England's bid to stage the
2018 tournament.
"What have you got for me?" Triesman, speaking at a British
parliamentary hearing into the failed bid he led, quoted
Teixeira as asking him.
Teixeira is not obliged to attend the house, an advisor to
the chamber said.
Romario, in his motion, said Brazil already faced problems
in its preparations to host the 2014 finals and the 2016 Olympic
Games and corruption allegations could further delay essential
work on infrastructure and sporting venues.
"The last thing the country needs are more corruption
scandals to interfere with the progress of work and professional
qualifications that these big sporting events demand of a venue
nation," he said.
An advisor to Romario said his request was not only over the
allegations concerning FIFA but also others regarding Teixeira's
conduct as the head of the CBF and the 2014 World Cup local
organising committee.
"What motivated the deputy to make this request are the
allegations that came to light now but he also wants the
president of the CBF to clarify not just that but old
allegations he never answered," she told Reuters.
FIFA is going through its biggest crisis since the vote last
December for the host countries of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup
finals with allegations of vote buying for the choice of venue
and the world body's presidential election scheduled for
Wednesday at its Zurich headquarters where incumbent Sepp
Blatter is standing unopposed.
Russia won the vote the stage the 2018 finals and Qatar the
2022 tournament.