Lord Triesman, the Chairman of the FA, has been caught on tape suggesting that Spain could be attempting to bribe World Cup referees.
The accusations are made in today’s Mail on Sunday who have a taped conversation between Triesman and his former secretary, the attractive 37-year-old Melissa Jacobs.
Employing a favourite tactic of older men in positions of power married man Triesman used his ‘charm’ on Miss Jacobs and began to divulge some very private details and thoughts that should have been kept within the inner circle of the FA.
The Mail on Sunday report the following excert from their conversation over a recent dinner:
Triesman said: ‘My assumption is that the Latin Americans, although they’ve not said so, will vote for Spain. And if Spain drop out, because Spain are looking for help from the Russians to help bribe the referees in the World Cup, their votes may then switch to Russia.’
At this point, Miss Jacobs asks: ‘Would Russia help them with that?’
Lord Triesman: ‘Oh, I think Russia will cut deals.’
Miss Jacobs: ‘Why will Russia help? Are Russia in the World Cup?’
Lord Triesman: ‘No, they’re not.’
Miss Jacobs: ‘Oh no they’re not, they’ve got nothing to lose?’
Lord Triesman: ‘Absolutely nothing at all to lose. Exactly.’
Triesman is likely to claim that it was light hearted comments to impress his former secretary but mud sticks.
His likely resignation will be seen as an attempt by the FA to distance themselves from the lovestruck peer but the damage to England’s World Cup hopes, this year and the future won’t be erased by one resignation.
It’ll take the most incredible PR offensive to wriggle out of those accusations, not even a mission by David Beckham to invite every association chairman to tea and biscuits with Posh and the kids in LA is likely to repair the damage.
The FA attempted to secure a High Court injunction to prevent the story from being published which gives a good indication to the strength of the story.
In recent times the FA have been increasingly accident prone, with a high turnover of Chief Executive’s, but most of the problems have been internal.
This latest scandal is likely to end England’s expensive plans to host the 2018 World Cup Finals and could well have an impact on the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.
Internationally the FA are often seen as arrogant and dismissive of their inferior foreign rivals, this story will underline that feeling.
On the pitch it could make life difficult for Fabio Capello’s side with accusations of cheating coming from a high ranking English official.
In Scotland of course we know that football match officials are beyond criticism and that any questionable decision is simply caused by an honest mistake.
Last week it was reported that former Grade 1 referee Mike McCurry had lost his career in accountancy due to accusations of misconduct and incompetence.
Surely he’s just being paranoid……..?
This kind of thing would never happen with snooker……?
Or at the olympics..??
Or in the SPL…….??
Rhussell’s sarcasm is not on.
Scottish referees are almost to a man Masons and freemasonry demands the highest levels of brotherly love and charitable giving so would never countenance corrupt practices.
This is a well-known fact.
What the underlying message here is that the FA are looking at ways to make sure the favours go their way instead of, God forbid, a fair World Cup! Everyone knows since the days of the late Sir Stanley Rous England had and have a huge influence on the FIFA officialdom. Only English fans think the draws that are always in easy groups are coincidence. Only English fans think that some of the “mysterious” decisions favouring England have been coincidence. Only English fans think that England are actually good enough to win a World Cup on ability alone. FIFA favour a handful of teams. England are one of them, so the accusation of this clown Lord Triesman, that Spain may be doing something less than honest is a smokescreen to take the eyes away from England. Isn’t it ironic that this was not to mention a country not recognized as one of the favourites anyway? Fear? I think so.
Anon 8.53
There is nothing factual to these suggestions, they are heresay not facts.
Tom Boyd came up with the phrase ‘honest mistakes’. Highlighting these honest mistakes and lobbying for change/transparency in refereeing matters has a far greater chance of success than claims, not facts, about secret societies.
Honest mistakes is a harder argument to dismiss. and