Fresh claims that Leoz asked for knighthood to vote for England 2018

By Duncan Mackay

May 16 – Another British MP has come forward to claim that Paraguay’s Nicolas Leoz (pictured) asked for a knighthood in return for voting for England to host the 2018 World Cup.

Bob Blizzard, who was the MP for Waveney until last year’s General Election, claimed that the head of CONMEBOL used a diplomatic envoy to request the honour.

Blizzard’s revelations follows allegations made by Lord Triesman, the former head of England’s bid, that Leoz was one of four memebrs of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee who requested favours in return for their votes.

Blizzard claimed that he met Leoz during a British-Latin All Party Parliamentary Group visit to Paraguay’s capital Asuncion in 2007, where he visited the headquarters of CONMEBOL.

“It seemed a very large building to me,” Blizzard told the Eastern Daily Press.

“In Mr Leoz’s office there was a lot of football paraphernalia, including photographs of Bobby Charlton.

“We started talking about the World Cup in 2018.

“I think England would be good for it. It is about time it went there.

“He appeared to support England’s bid.”

At the end of the meeting, Leoz told Blizzard he would visit London on his way back from a visit to FIFA’s Zurich headquarters.

Blizzard claims he was later contacted by a Charge d’affairs at the Paraguayan Embassy who said Leoz would like to visit London and it would be nice for him to get an honour.

“I told her we did not do that sort of thing in Britain.” Blizzard told the Eastern Daily Press.

“I was quite shocked by what happened.

“The significant thing is Mr Leoz appeared to use his country’s diplomatic service for his own use.

“It is a very serious matter indeed.”

Leoz has denied the allegations that he asked for a knighthood.

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