May 21 – Spain claim that they not taking Lord Triesman’s allegations of a Russian-Spanish match-fixing plot at the World Cup seriously, said the country’s Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky (pictured far left).
“I read about it and I simply had to smile,” said Lissavetzky.
“How could anyone in their right mind think that Spain, a democratic country, could do such things?
“We didn’t attach much importance to it.”
Triesman resigned his role as chairman of the English Football Association and head of England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup after his claims were secretly recorded and made public in the Mail on Sunday newspaper.
“Everyone has the right to make a mistake,” said Lissavetzky.
“I know that he [Triesman] sent a letter to the Spanish and Portuguese federations apologising.
“Nothing more needs to be said.”
Spain and Portugal have applied jointly for the right to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 and Lissavetzky said in the wake of the Triesman allegations it was important to ensure there was “fair play” in the bidding process.
“The only thing I would ask is for fair play,” he said.
“We, of course, show respect to the other bids.
“We have always played fair here in Spain.”
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