FA appoints QC for review of Triesman claim
Reuters - Thursday 12 May 2011, 22:00
LONDON - The English FA will hold an
independent review into claims from former FA chairman David
Triesman that four FIFA executive committee members sought
favours to vote for England's 2018 World Cup campaign.
James Dingemans QC will examine the evidence and speak to
Triesman, who made the allegations under Parliamentary privilege
at the House of Commons on Tuesday, during an inquiry into the
reasons for the bid's failure.
"(Lord) Triesman has made accusations about people involved
in the process which are very serious. It is essential that we
determine as soon as possible the weight of evidence behind
these serious allegations," current FA chairman David Bernstein
told reporters on Thursday.
Dingemans has until May 27 to report, when his findings will
be made public.
Bernstein added that the FA originally had no plans to mount
an inquiry into their failed bid to secure the 2018 finals but
had changed its mind in the light of Triesman's allegations.
The world governing body FIFA has since contacted the FA to
ask for all possible evidence which it said should be with them
four days before its Congress begins in Zurich on May 31.
Triesman alleged that four FIFA members personally asked him
for favours during the World Cup bid campaign.
He said FIFA vice-president Jack Warner asked for 2.5
million dollars to pay for an education centre in Trinidad and a
further 500,000 for TV rights for Haiti, which he owned.
Triesman said Paraguayan Nicolas Leoz, the president of the
South American confederation, had asked for a knighthood.
Thailand's Worawi Makudi demanded television rights to an
England friendly with Thailand while Brazil's Ricardo Teixeira
said "you come and tell me what you have for me", Triesman
added.
All four have denied the claims.
Meanwhile, Bernstein confirmed that the FA would debate
whether to back the incumbent Sepp Blatter or his Qatari
challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam who go head-to-head in the FIFA
presidential election at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on June 1.
"The key thing is openness in process, in financial
information, in the election procedures," he said.
"FIFA is a very closed organisation and a lot goes on behind
closed doors. We would like to see those doors open much more. "