By David Gold
May 10 – CONMEBOL, South America’s governing body, has denied reports that its President, Nicolas Leoz, asked for a knighthood in return for supporting England’s bid to host the World Cup in 2018.
The organisation’s spokesman, Nestor Benitez, said: “The publication in London’s [Sunday Times] is pure fantasy, as well as being sick.
“The South American Football Confederation maintained and confirmed at all times that its votes [during the 2018 World Cup bid process] were for Spain [and Portugal] and for no other country.”
Russia was chosen as the host of the 2018 World Cup after England were knocked out with just two votes in total, one of those from its own FIFA Vice-President Geoff Thompson.
Benitez said that Prince William had invited Leoz to his wedding to Kate Middleton, but that the Paraguayan had turned down the offer because the event clashed with CONMEBOL’s bi-annual congress.
Prince William’s spokesman Paddy Harverson had claimed last week that no invitations to the wedding had been issued to anyone from FIFA.
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