Exclusive: Resign from FIFA ExCo over England 2018? Of course I haven’t says Thompson successor

Jim Boyce

By Andrew Warshaw

December 6 – Future FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce today denied he had given up the post in protest at England’s 2018 World Cup elimination.

Northern Irishman Boyce, who replaces Geoff Thompson on the FIFA Executive Committee in May 2011 as the nominated British representative, was flashed up on Sky’s news ticker service as having turned down the role.

But Boyce told insideworldfootbal from Malta, where he is attending a tournament: “Someone is just making mischief.

“This is absolutely not the case and I have no idea where it came from.

“It certainly didn’t come from me.”

Boyce said he had no problem with Russia staging the World Cup in 2018 but called for FIFA’s secret ballot to be opened up so everyone knows where individual votes have been placed.

“I have a problem with people saying they are going to vote for a country and don’t do that,” he said.

“People who are in a position of authority should be able to get up in the morning, look themselves in the mirror and say they made a decision based on their conscience.

“I have no objection for people saying publicly who they voted for.

“In fact I would favour it.

“People should be up front and honest.

“If the votes on a major decision like this are made public, nobody could accuse anyone else of doing something behind people’s backs.

“It would take away a lot of the stain that has happened in the last few days.”

Boyce also added his name to the chorus of critics who urged FIFA to make the bidding criteria clearer.

“It appears to me that FIFA wish to take the event to countries that haven’t had it before,” said Boyce.

“If this is a policy, then that should be made abundantly clear.

Then other countries who want to bid would at least be clear of the criteria.

“I will raise it fully when I become vice-president.”

He denied the suggestion that Britain’s privileged position of having a nominated rather than elected place on FIFA’s Executive Committee contributed to a perceived anti-English feeling among voting members.

“It was Great Britain who gave football to FIFA and Great Britain who sorted out problems whenever they needed to be resolved in the early days,” he said.

“It’s in the statutes that Britain should hold a FIFA vice-presidency.

“It’s something I fervently believe our colleagues in Europe are happy should continue.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1738773786labto1738773786ofdlr1738773786owedi1738773786sni@w1738773786ahsra1738773786w.wer1738773786dna1738773786

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