Exclusive: England have caused "damage but it's not irreperable" claims new British FIFA vice-president

By Andrew Warshaw

June 4 – Jim Boyce, Britain’s new FIFA vice-president, says anyone found guilty of corruption should be thrown out of the organisation and that he will not be afraid to stand up and say it.

Boyce, who has just taken over from the introverted Geoff Thompson on the FIFA Executive Committee, insists, however, FIFA should be given the benefit of the doubt now that Sepp Blatter has announced details of a clean-up in the wake of the worst bribery allegations in the organisation’s 107-year history.

“People tell me I am joining a corrupt organisation but I will not allow that,” Boyce told insideworldfootball.

“FIFA have done an awful lot of good but what is certainly true is that if certain individuals have been proven to be corrupt in any form they shouldn’t be there.”

Boyce, a former Irish Football Association (IFA) President, has just attended his first FIFA Congress in his new role, marred by the bribery claims involving Jack Warner and Mohamed Bin Hammam.

He has gone on record as saying that the English Football Association’s attempt to force a postponement of the Presidential election might have weakened his position.

FA chairman David Bernstein’s intervention was attacked on all fronts, not least by Angel Maria Villar-Llona of Spain and Argentina’s Julio Grondona.

It is understood Boyce, who has taken over from former FA chairman Thompson, was not consulted prior to Bernstein’s intervention on Wednesday (June 1).

Whilst he categorically refused to criticise the FA’s move, he admitted he had taken over the position at a time when the long-standing automatic British vice-presidency had never been under greater threat.

“There is no doubt about that,” said Boyce.

“I don’t think any British vice-president installed at FIFA has come in under the kind of circumstances that I have.

“Some people have asked me what I have let myself in for.

“Damage has been done but it’s not irreperable.”

Boyce is hoping his experience and personality will help change minds, both about the British vice-presidency and FIFA’s tarmished image.

“I’ve had to handle many different situations in my time, not least when the troubles that were going on in Northern Ireland when I was at the IFA,” he said.

“I may be there to be shot down and people may not always agree with me but I have always been honest and hope that will help in trying to rebuild the image of Fifa so people have confidence in what they are doing.”

Boyce has already been told in no uncertain terms by Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland not to get involved in their decision to boycott next year’s Olympic football tournament.

All three Associations are adamant that giving up their national identities could serve as a dangerous precedent.

Did Boyce think what happened in Zurich, with the British vice-presidency coming under increased scrutiny, would entrench those positions even further?

“You’d have to ask them that question but you’d have to say it’s a strong possibility,” he said.

“But I can’t say any more on the matter because I’ve been asked not to.”

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