By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Brazil’s Ricardo Teixeira, one of football’s most prominent powerbrokers, has launched a savage attack on the English Football Association, saying he will “make their lives hell” as long as he remains a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee.
The President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) used a magazine interview in his homeland to hit back at allegations that he had taken bribes during the recent World Cup bidding process, calling England “the pirates of the world”.
Teixeira was one of four FIFA Executive Committee members accused by former FA chairman Lord Triesman of seeking favours in exchange for votes but later cleared by independent inquiry.
Triesman told a parliamentary hearing that Teixeira had asked him to “come and tell me what you have got for me”.
Teixeira was also cited in a BBC Panorama report but has now hit back with a vengeance.
“The islanders [Britain] are the pirates of the world,” he was quoted as telling revista piauí magazine.
“It’s all rubbish…these English people are annoyed because they lost [the 2018 World Cup vote to Russia].
“Triesman had to explain in court how he spent $50 million, $15 million of which was Government funds, on England’s bid.
“It’s a ridiculous sum… we spent three million reais [$1 million] and we got 2014, they just can’t take it, you know?
“The BBC is a state organisation.
“It is of interest to the British Government to annul Russia’s selection [for the 2018 World Cup] and to knock Brazil out of the running because they think they can substitute us at the last minute.
“It’s all orchestrated.”
Despite his failed attempt to get the recent FIFA Presidential election called off, FA chairman David Bernstein has vowed to try and build bridges with the footballing authorities and restore England’s tarnished reputation.
But Teixeira said he intended to keep them out of the loop at every opportunity.
“I’m going to make their lives hell,” he said.
“While I’m at the CBF, at FIFA, they won’t get past the door.”
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