15 February 2025 GMT: 23:58

Triesman revelations set to damage England 2018 World Cup bid

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

May 16 – England’s campaign to host the 2018 World Cup could be severely damaged after Lord Triesman, the bid leader, was accused of making a series of explosive allegations about rival bidders in a story published on the front page of today’s Mail on Sunday.

The most damaging of the allegations is that Triesman, who is also the chairman of the Football Association, allegedly accused Spain and Russia of trying to bribe referees at this year’s World Cup.

The 66-year-old Labour Peer allegedly suggests that Spain may withdraw its joint bid with Portugal to stage the 2018 finals if Russia, who have emerged as the favourites to beat England to be awarded the event, helps it to bribe referees at the World Cup, which opens in South Africa on June 11.

The allegations were made by Triesman during a taped-recorded conversation with Melissa Jacobs, a civil servant he employed as a private secretary when he was a Minister at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and who he also reportedly had a brief relationship with.

The FA had tried unsuccessfully to secure a High Court injunction in London yesterday to prevent the Mail on Sunday publishing the claims, allegedly made two weeks ago.

They abandoned the case after only 90 minutes.

The embarrassing revelations emerged only two days after Triesman, accompanied by David Beckham, had handed England’s 1,752-page bid book to FIFA President Sepp Blatter at a high-profile event in Zurich.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Triesman allegedly told Jacobs: ”There’s some evidence that the Spanish football authorities are trying to identify the referees…and pay them.”

The chairman of FIFA’s Referees’ Committee is Maria Villa Llona, the President of the Spanish Football Association, who is also the head of Spain’s bid with Portugal as well as an influential member of the FIFA Executive Committee.

During his conversation with Jacobs, Triesman also allegedly discussed where he thought England would get votes from when the FIFA Executive Committee votes on which country should host the 2018 World Cup at its meeting in Zurich on December 2, during which he repeats his allegations about referees.

Triesman allegedly said: ”I think the Africans we are doing very well with.

“I think we’re doing kind of well with some of the Asians.

“Probably doing well with Central and North America.

“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.”

Jacobs then allegedly asks: “Would Russia help them with that?”

Lord Triesman: “Oh, I think Russia will cut deals.”

Jacobs: “Why will Russia help?

“Are Russia in the World Cup?”

Triesman: “No, they’re not.”

Jacobs: “Oh no they’re not, they’ve got nothing to lose?”

Triesman: “Absolutely nothing at all to lose.

“Exactly.”

Triesman, who accompanied Prince William (pictured) during the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium yesterday, also alleges that an unidentified FIFA Executive Committee member had asked for an honorary knighthood from the Queen to vote for England.

Jacobs asks Triesman: “What, in order to vote for England he wants an honorary knighthood?

“I don’t think the Queen will be persuaded!”

Triesman allegedly replied: “Utterly unpersuadable. I’m not even going to try…

“When the French went for the [1998] World Cup they gave this bloke the Legion d’honneur and I guess that’s their equivalent, although they hand them out very much more freely than we do.”

To read the full Mail on Sunday story click here.

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1739663755labto1739663755ofdlr1739663755owedi1739663755sni@y1739663755akcam1739663755.nacn1739663755ud1739663755

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