April 8 – The so-called ‘Watch-gate’ saga is back in the news again with FIFA announcing no action is being taken against English FA chairman Greg Dyke.
All heads of the 32 finalists at last year’s World Cup plus members of the FIFA executive committee – 65 people in all – were given luxury watches by the Brazilian FA as a gift to mark its centenary on the eve of the tournament.
Several exco members brought the issue to the attention of FIFA’s ethics committee even though it was not linked to any election or any attempt to influence votes.
Michael Garcia, who led the investigative half of the committee at the time, ruled the value of the watches exceeded permitted limits for such gifts and ordered that they be handed back by October 24.
Dyke was initially reluctant to do so having said he wanted to donate his to charity to be sold at auction, prompting FIFA to open proceedings. Its ethics department has now confirmed that Dyke has backed down and returned his watch and that “as consequence, the adjudicatory chamber . . . has decided to close the proceedings in respect of a possible breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1731656930labto1731656930ofdlr1731656930owedi1731656930sni@w1731656930ahsra1731656930w.wer1731656930dna1731656930