Teixeira quits as member of FIFA Executive Committee

By Duncan Mackay

March 20 – Ricardo Teixeira has resigned as a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee, a week after he quit as the President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Brazil 2014.

The 64-year-old, who announced his resignation after 18 years on the Executive Committee in a short letter to Nicolas Leoz, the head of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), claimed he was stepping down for “personal reasons”.

Earlier this month Teixeira had taken what was described as an indefinite medical leave of absence.

The resignation of Teixeira solves a dilemma for FIFA, who admitted that they could not force him to resign and either he needed to step down voluntarily or CONMEBOL had to effectively sack him.

In his letter to Leoz, Teixeira thanked him for “his support and cooperation”.

Teixeira has been under increasing pressure both at home and at FIFA as a fraud investigation into his affairs was carried out in Brazil.

Brazilian newspapers have alleged he was involved in money laundering relating to a friendly match between Brazil and Portugal in 2008.

Meanwhile, FIFA has been determined to publish documents relating to the collapse of its former marketing partner ISL in 2001, which are believed to reveal that Teixeira was one of four officials who took kickbacks from the organisation.

The departure of Teixeira means FIFA has lost four members of its 24-person Executive Committee to corruption scandals in the last two years.

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